What is red light therapy?: Our experts break down the new wellness trend

You may have heard of red light therapy as a new wellness must-have, with the potential to regrow hair, improve acne, and aid in muscle recovery. It’s not just wellness influencers and luxury spas leading the charge to red light therapy, though. Dermatologists, sports medicine physicians, and medical researchers are also taking notice of this evolving trend and studying its real-world applications. As interest grows, so does the conversation around what it can actually do, how it works, and who it’s best suited for. Before you dive in, though, it’s helpful to know the science behind how red light therapy works and if it’s the right treatment for you. The benefits of red light therapy are potentially far-reaching, but they depend on consistency, proper use, and the specific concern you’re addressing. We talked to a doctor of physical therapy and a sports medicine expert to take a closer look at what red light therapy is, what the research says, and how it can safely and effectively work for you. What is red light therapy? Red light therapy came about in the 1990s as a result of NASA’s experimentation with LED technology for growing plants in space. When researchers noticed that cuts on the hands of astronauts working near the LED lights healed faster, they began to explore how red and near-infrared wavelengths can contribute to human cell repair. What began as a practical solution for growing plants in a low-light, low-gravity environment opened the door to a broader understanding of how light can interact with biological tissue at the cellular level. These early NASA findings, which pointed to reduced inflammation, faster wound healing, and improved cellular energy, kicked off a greater field of study around the benefits of red light therapy for skin health, wound healing, and even hair regrowth. Over time, researchers have expanded this field of inquiry, examining how specific wavelengths can penetrate the skin and affect the functioning of our cells. Today,