I’m embarrassed to say that I am over 40, and very educated in health, anti-aging, and wellness, and still don’t have a face cream or skin regimen that I adhere to on a daily basis [GASP!]. My skin just never seemed to love commercial creams and potions, no matter how ‘natural’ they are, but as you can imagine, I do have a closet full of valiant effort products...and wasted money. You may be the same, and with thousands of products on the market claiming to offer a secret formula to anti-aging, it can be hard to know which ones actually work for you, and are worth the money. If you’ve been on the search for a reliable method that will repair, protect, and rejuvenate your skin, like me, you’re not alone. Chances are you are busy too and have a mile-long to-do list that never seems to get any shorter. You don’t have time to chase the best lotions, creams, and devices that all claim to offer anti-aging benefits that will make your skin look young and healthy, and likely have a bathroom closet with too many failed products. Luckily you’ve come to the right place to learn all about red light therapy, a method that offers incredible health benefits, is safe to use, and is one of the most passive anti-aging techniques I have found yet. [1]Red light therapy is a unique technology aimed at improving your skin health with the added perk of anti-aging benefits, giving you the best of both worlds. [2] It works by releasing low-level wavelengths of red light that help to regenerate and repair your skin. Red light technology is safer than other anti-aging methods such as laser or pulsed light because it avoids potentially damaging your skin. The light from red light therapy goes deep beneath the surface of the skin, which avoids any superficial harm and is painless.[3]

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

Does it still sound too good to be true? Then it’s time to dive into the data to show you how it can help with anti-aging and other skin concerns. Your body is made up of 30 to 40 trillion cells. If you can remember back to junior high school science class, it may sound familiar that in each of your cells, there is a mitochondria. Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse to your body’s cells, where energy is created and stored. I won’t get too ‘science’ on you but just think of mitochondria as your cell’s, and therefore your body’s battery. When you’ve got a crazy schedule that includes stress, working out, breathing poor air, coming in contact with chemicals, and consuming processed and pesticide added food and drink, your battery is going to get low and run out eventually. This is how we age!According to Dr. Michael Hamblin, a leading photomedicine researcher, “when longer wavelengths or visibly red light hits the skin, it nudges mitochondria to make energy more efficiently.” [4] This means, redlight therapy helps to strengthen your cells and recharge your battery to keep them functioning more properly and effectively. The cells not only optimize and repair themselves but in turn reduce inflammation and produce collagen, translating to brighter, younger-looking skin. A recent study on red light therapy showed that just two 15-minute sessions a week can help reduce the effects of wrinkles and fine lines. [5] However, it is safe to use more frequently if you need a quick boost of energy on a daily basis. The best part about red light therapy is it can be done virtually anywhere. My fitness studio, R3bilt, not only has red light therapy units available in our studio as part of our warm-up and cool down during our workouts but also for sale so you can easily experience the anti-aging benefits from the comfort of your home!

Key Health Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Not only is red light therapy a quick and efficient way to help with anti-aging and cellular repair, but its overall light therapy applied to the chest and face will also make you feel refreshed and ready to take on the world in no time. With a massive list of added benefits to your health, you’ll be wondering why you didn’t invest in this device sooner. Let’s take a look at some of the other proven benefits red light therapy can help you with anti-aging and other skin issues you’ve been facing.

• Reduces the Visibility of Scars
• Relieves Sore Muscles [6]
• Increases Collagen Production To Reduce Wrinkles & Fine Lines

• Repairs Sun-Damaged Skin
• Improves Muscle Recovery Time
• Enhances Blood Circulation
• Increases Circulation
• Speeds Up the Wound Healing Process
• Improves Skin Complexion
• Decreases Hair Loss for People With Alopecia
• Offers Anti-Inflammatory Benefits [7]
• Increased Cognitive Performance  

Other Bio-Hacks to Incorporate Into Your Daily Routine

Implementing additional forms of science that helps your own biology work more efficiently- what we call biohacking- is an excellent way to help promote anti-aging and healthier skin for an extended period of time. Bio-hacks incorporate science and biology to encourage self-experimentation to find ways to improve your brain and body functions and optimize performance using a safe, natural holistic approach. These methods have been proven to help decrease the risk of disease that you may be at higher risk for. [8] They have a myriad of health benefits; they can also help lower your blood pressure, reduce your chronic illnesses, achieve optimal health, give you energy, and reduce depression symptoms. [9] Although there are hundreds of bio-hacks you can try, here are a few of the most common ones that you can start implementing into your life right now!

• Get 7-9 Hours of Quality Sleep Every Night, and be asleep by 10pm! [10]
• Utilize Meditation For Brain Health
• Spend Time Exploring Nature To Reduce Stress
• Eat a Healthy Well-Balanced Diet With Enough Healthy Fat [11]
• Spend Time Connecting With People While Being Fully Present
• Add Clean Supplements to Your Diet To Reduce Cellular Deficiency
• Introduce Your Body to Intermittent Fasting [12]
• Try a Variation of Cold Therapy Daily [13]

We’re excited to announce R3Bilt’s virtual anti-aging class with CEO, Alli Barnes. It’s jam-packed with the latest easy science-based bio-hacks to get your skin looking radiant and youthful while learning all the best tips and tricks to live a long and healthy life. As an added bonus, you’ll have a blast learning with Alli as she shares the very best-kept secrets to anti-aging. Reserve your spot today! We can’t wait to see you there!

References

[1] Chenoweth, H., deBara, D., Pai, D., Ruffo, J., & Wu, S. (n.d.). Red Light Therapy May Actually Be the Fountain of Youth. Retrieved from https://www.glamour.com/story/red-light-therapy-may-actually-be-the-fountain-of-youth[2] Johnson, J. (2019, July 29). Red light therapy: Benefits and side effects. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325884#skin-health[3] A Guide To Red Light Therapy: Answering 8 Commonly Asked Questions. Retrieved from https://www.celluma.com/blogs/blog/a-guide-to-red-light-therapy-answering-8-commonly-asked-questions[4] Hamblin, M. R. (2017). Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28748217[5] Wunsch, A., & Matuschka, K. (2014, February). A controlled trial to determine the efficacy of red and near-infrared light treatment in patient satisfaction, reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, skin roughness, and intradermal collagen density increase. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3926176/[6] Douris, P., Southard, V., Ferrigi, R., Grauer, J., Katz, D., Nascimento, C., & Podbielski, P. (2006, June). Effect of phototherapy on delayed onset muscle soreness. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16875447[7] Whitten, A. (2020, April 16). Does Red Light Therapy Reduce Inflammation? Retrieved from https://www.theenergyblueprint.com/does-red-light-therapy-reduce-inflammation/[8] Afman, L., & Müller, M. (2006, April). Nutrigenomics: from molecular nutrition to prevention of disease. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16567153[9] Meng, Q., Ying, Z., Noble, E., Zhao, Y., Agrawal, R., Mikhail, A., … Yang, X. (2016, May). Systems Nutrigenomics Reveals Brain Gene Networks Linking Metabolic and Brain Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4909610/[10] How Much Sleep Do We Really Need? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need[11] HHS Office, & Council on Sports. (2017, January 26). Importance of Good Nutrition. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/eat-healthy/importance-of-good-nutrition/index.html[12] Fung, J. (2016, January 28). Intermittent Fasting for Beginners. Retrieved from https://www.dietdoctor.com/intermittent-fasting[13] What are the Benefits of Cold Therapy?: Wim Hof Method. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.wimhofmethod.com/cold-therapy