There are many fans of red light therapy (RLT) and it has many claims. The closest thing to FDA approval I could find for it is that it’s FDA-cleared, which sounds like a step or more down from FDA-approved.
Know that the claims are still being assessed. In the meantime, many PTs, spas and more offer RLT. Not every use below has been proven. Here are the claims:*
Stimulate collagen production
Increase fibroblast production, which makes collagen
Increase blood circulation to the tissue
Reduce inflammation in cells
Improve wound healing
Reduce stretchmarks
Reduce wrinkles, fine lines and age spots
Improve facial texture
Improve psoriasis, rosacea and eczema
Improve scars
Improve sun-damaged skin
Improve hair growth in people with androgenic alopecia
Improve acne
Reduce cancer chemotherapy side effects, including oral mucositis
To relieve pain and inflammation associated with ankle tendonitis, rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis of the knee
To prevent cold scores from herpes simplex virus from recurring
Improve Weight loss
Cancer removal
Cellulite removal
Remove depression
Remove Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Improve muscle pain
Improve pain with chemotherapy meds
Improve joint pain
Dementia
* Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22114-red-light-therapy and Brown University: https://www.brownhealth.org/be-well/red-light-therapy-benefits-safety-and-things-know
Julie, I actually used red light theray for my last dog when she was sufddenly diagnosed with chronic kidney disease ( out of the blue). My vet said there was nothing they could do, but I found a vet about an hour away that was having good experience using red light and lase therapy with animals so I decided to try it. It gave her (and me) two more years of life. He was in the process of writing his findings but took ill and I'm sure they were ever published.
I bought an infrared light for home use. I think I’m too skeptical about it working to be consistent about using it. And you have to use it frequently for it to work. I’d love to hear how it works for you.