Red light therapy: Better than the classic red light lamp?

Not all red light therapy is the same. This type of therapy has evolved significantly since the classic red light lamp. Our near-infrared red light therapy devices contain the most modern and user-friendly technology.

What is red light?

The light visible to the human eye is electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of 380 to 780 nm (nanometers). The visible spectrum begins with violet light (380-420 nm), continues with the other colors of the rainbow and ends with red light, which has a wavelength of 650-780 nm.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3726606

By the way, our brand name is inspired by the goddess of the dawn - her name is Helsi™.

What is infrared light?

Infrared light is located next to red light in the spectrum. It has a wavelength of 780 nm to 1 mm - but only wavelengths of 780 to 1,400 nm are important for medical and therapeutic purposes - also known as near-infrared light. 1

Humans can perceive not only visible light, but also infrared light - although this is perceived as heat. This is also the basis for the therapeutic effect of the classic red light lamp.

The classic red light lamp

The classic red light lamp emits heat in the form of infrared radiation. If a part of the skin is exposed to this heat, it leads to dilation of the blood vessels and thus increased blood flow to the affected area.

Therefore, this therapy is suitable for diseases that respond to heat applications.

A red light lamp contains a large light bulb with a special filter that allows infrared radiation to pass through. Such lamps can be purchased in any electronics store.

Applications of the classic red light lamp

Mild illnesses can be treated at home with the heat-giving red light lamps. These include, for example, muscle tension, chronic joint diseases and rheumatic diseases.

Red light therapy is also effective for sinusitis and otitis media.

If in doubt, you should consult a doctor to have your condition correctly diagnosed and to determine whether red light therapy is suitable for your treatment.

Since the main function of such red light lamps is to emit heat, they are also used to keep newborns and premature babies warm in incubators. Aside from medical applications, such red light lamps are also used to heat saunas and in animal breeding.

Side effects and dangers of the red light lamp

If the lamps are not used correctly, either by using them too close to the body or by exposing yourself to the heat radiation for too long, skin burns can occur. In exceptional cases and with very long use, the eyes can be damaged, which is why wearing protective goggles is recommended.

The innovative near-infrared red light therapy

Near-infrared red light therapy is also known as photobiomodulation (PBM for short). It can be performed with a special laser or with LEDs (light-emitting diodes).

There is no difference in effectiveness between these two light sources, but LEDs do have some advantages that are described in detail below.

Near-infrared light and red light generate hardly any heat and exert their effect in the cells.

What happens at the cellular level?

Both red light and near-infrared light penetrate the tissue and have different effects on the cells. It is mainly the mitochondria that react to infrared light.

What are mitochondria?

Mitochondria are so-called cell organelles enclosed by a membrane - comparable to a type of organ within the cell. Their job is, among other things, to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an important cellular energy carrier. The number of mitochondria in a cell depends greatly on its energy requirements and is on average several thousand.

2 is the cell nucleus, 9 are mitochondria
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Biological_cell.svg

A special enzyme is located in the mitochondrial membrane, cytochrome c oxidase (abbreviated CCO or COX). This enzyme is a photoacceptor, which means that it is activated by light particles. This leads to further processes that affect cell metabolism.

The energy carrier at the cellular level is ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Light of the specific wavelengths of red light and near infrared light increases the production of ATP in the cell - and thus its energy supply. In addition, the production of oxygen radicals is regulated. These are part of the immune defense against bacteria and viruses. Only in high concentrations do oxygen radicals have a negative effect on the body's own cells, but normally the organism has counter-regulatory mechanisms that prevent this.

Furthermore, the production of certain proteins in the cell is promoted, which cause further effects, such as increased cell division, growth promotion and regulation of inflammatory mediators. The oxygen supply to the tissue is also improved.

Red light and near-infrared light, which cause all these effects, can come from a laser (low level laser therapy, abbreviated LLLT), but also from LEDs, which is the latest development.

While heat radiation is the decisive factor in classic red light therapy, the light emission in near-infrared red light therapy has a secondary warming effect.

The advantages of LED over laser

We only use LEDs in our red light therapy devices. These have many advantages over lasers5:

  • They are much cheaper - both in terms of purchase and operation.
  • No special safety precautions are necessary, as is the case with laser devices. This is why lasers can only be used in hospitals and doctor's offices.
  • LED-based near-infrared red light therapy devices can also be purchased by patients and used at home.
  • While lasers can only be directed at small, point-shaped areas of skin, groups of LEDs can be arranged in rows or areas, as is the case with our therapy devices. This means that large areas of skin can be treated at once.

Our near-infrared red light therapy devices

Helsi™'s near-infrared red light therapy devices - Helsi™ Mini and Helsi™ Plus - combine the two wavelengths that have proven most effective in the medical field: red light with a wavelength of 660 nm and near-infrared light with 850 nm.

Our technology was developed based on sound research. It is both safe and effective and it causes hardly any electrosmog (potentially harmful electromagnetic fields).

The Helsi™ Mini

Small but powerful, the Helsi™ Mini is our most portable red light therapy device.

The mini device was developed for the targeted treatment of specific areas such as the face, joints or smaller muscle groups. You can choose whether you want to use the red light (660 nm) and infrared light (850 nm) simultaneously or separately, depending on your personal preferences and needs.

Equipped with the latest lens technology, the Helsi™ Mini ensures that the light penetrates the body efficiently and enables targeted treatment.

The Helsi™ Plus

The Helsi™ Plus is our largest light therapy device and is perfect for large area treatments, e.g. chest, stomach or back, as well as full body treatments.

You can easily connect multiple devices together or simply attach the Helsi™ Plus to a room door using the included bracket. Then set the built-in programmable timer to the time you want and incorporate fixed times for red light therapy into your wellness routine.

Areas of application of near-infrared red light therapy

Since red and near-infrared light has fundamental effects at the cellular level, there are many different areas of application.

Please seek medical advice if you are unsure of the underlying condition of your symptoms. Your doctor will then give you the green light for red light treatment at home.

Here is an overview of the health and cosmetic effects you can achieve with near-infrared red light therapy:

  • Combating signs of skin aging - reducing wrinkles and tightening the skin
  • acceleration of wound healing
  • Improving fitness and performance in sports
  • improving sleep quality
  • treatment of depression

Combating Signs of Skin Aging

The skin begins to age as early as the age of 25. It loses elasticity and wrinkles appear. Red light therapy is an effective way to combat this and slow down the aging process.

It stimulates the formation of collagen, making the skin firmer and more elastic. Near-infrared light is superior to other methods such as chemical peels when it comes to reducing wrinkles. It is also safe and, if used correctly, can be used safely on large areas of the body without causing any damage to the skin.

Near-infrared light helps to repair tissue and regenerate skin cells. It heals small wounds that make skin look blemished and inflammations that cause skin redness. The wavelength of 850 nm that our devices emit is ideal for this.

The improved blood circulation caused by red light therapy also benefits the skin and its vitality, as oxygen and nutrients are better transported to all layers of the skin.

improving wound healing

Infrared light stimulates the growth of special connective tissue cells, the fibroblasts. These play an important role in wound healing.

Other special cells, lymphocytes, which remove both dead tissue and invading germs, are also activated by near-infrared light, as are cells in the upper layers of the skin. All of this contributes to wounds closing faster and healing better. 5

Improving fitness and performance in sports

Infrared light and red light therapy contribute to increased production of the energy carrier ATP in the mitochondria. Red light therapy therefore offers a simple and effective way to supply the body with energy at a cellular level. In addition, repair mechanisms are set in motion in cells and tissues, allowing the body to regenerate.

Intensive exercise causes tiny muscle damage. A study has shown that irradiating the affected muscle area with near-infrared light before training reduces the occurrence of this muscle damage. The study also provides evidence that the phenomenon of muscle fatigue can be reduced by near-infrared light. Overall, mitochondrial function is improved, more energy is available to the muscle cells, blood flow to the muscles is improved and inflammatory reactions after strenuous exercise are reduced. The recovery phase after training is shortened.

It has been shown that surface irradiation by several LEDs, as arranged in our therapy devices, is more beneficial than spot irradiation. Approximately half of the LEDs in the study arrangement emitted red light with a wavelength of 660 nm, the other half emitted near-infrared light with a wavelength of 850 nm. This also corresponds exactly to the wavelengths with which our therapy devices work.

Another study conducted with female athletes showed, among other things, that regular whole-body irradiation increases both muscle regeneration and athletic performance.

improving sleep quality

The main focus of the above-mentioned study11 is on melatonin levels and the associated sleep quality.

Melatonin is released in greater quantities in the evening, and during the day the melatonin level drops again under the influence of daylight. Melatonin is therefore an important regulator of the day-night rhythm.

In the study, 20 female athletes were subjected to whole-body irradiation with red light for 30 minutes every evening for 14 days. The wavelength of the light was 658 nm, which is practically no different from the 660 nm emitted by our therapy devices. Melatonin levels increased significantly and subjective sleep quality improved significantly.

treatment of depression

A lack of melatonin can also contribute to the development of depression. The so-called “winter depression” in particular is promoted by the lack of sunlight and the resulting low melatonin levels. Studies have shown that regular infrared red light therapy can prevent the development of these seasonal depressive episodes.

Melatonin also acts as an antioxidant, so increasing melatonin levels can benefit the entire organism.

The possibility of irradiating the brain transcranially (through the skull) with red and infrared light is also the subject of intensive research. Unfortunately, there is currently no way to do this at home, but various studies have produced promising results. Depression is associated with disorders in brain metabolism. These include, for example, a slowed metabolism, impaired blood circulation, inflammatory symptoms, oxidative stress and reduced regeneration of nerve cells. Transcranial red light therapy appears to have a positive effect on all of these factors.

The use of the red light therapy devices Helsi™ Mini and Helsi™ Plus

Treating with your home red light therapy device is quick and easy. However, there are a few basic things you need to keep in mind:

  • The distance between the treated body part and the red light therapy device must be at least 15 cm and no more than 30 cm.
  • The treated areas of skin must not be covered by clothing.
  • In general, it is recommended to treat the body area in question for 10 minutes. After that, you can reposition either yourself or the device to treat the next body area.
  • A longer application time than 10 minutes per body region does not increase the effectiveness of the treatment!
  • You can use the red light therapy device daily.
  • You are free to choose the time of day at which you have your treatment.
    Treatments in the morning have been shown to increase energy and productivity during the day, whereas treatments in the evening help improve sleep quality.

FAQ

  • What is near-infrared red light therapy?
    Red light therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation, is generally understood to be a type of light therapy with very little heat effect. Unlike infrared cabins, where the infrared light is mainly used to generate heat, here certain wavelengths of light are used to promote health.
  • How does near-infrared red light therapy work?
    Near-infrared red light therapy combines light with two specific wavelength ranges: red light in the range of 800 to 860 nm (nanometers) and near-infrared light in the range of 600 to 660 nm. Light with these specific wavelengths causes what is known as photobiomodulation in human cells.
  • What are the health benefits of near-infrared red light therapy?
    Near-infrared red light therapy can achieve many different health and cosmetic effects. They range from improved wound healing, increased fitness and improved performance in sports, to treating depression and improving sleep quality, to tightening the skin and reducing wrinkles.
  • Does near-infrared red light therapy have side effects?
    Near-infrared red light therapy with LEDs, such as those used in the Helsi™ Mini and Helsi™ Plus, is very safe and has virtually no side effects as long as you stick to the prescribed treatment times and types. The only thing that needs to be protected is your eyes, which should be worn with suitable glasses. When you buy a red light therapy device from Helsi™, you will receive eye protection glasses with it.

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