From the Guidelines
Red light therapy, specifically ALA-red light PDT, is conditionally recommended for the treatment of actinic keratosis (AK) due to its potential benefits in reducing inflammation and promoting wound healing, as supported by recent studies 1. The benefits of red light therapy are multifaceted, including its ability to stimulate cellular energy production in mitochondria, which can lead to improved skin conditions such as acne and wrinkles.
- Regular sessions of red light therapy, typically 10-20 minutes several times weekly, may also alleviate joint pain, muscle soreness, and improve hair growth in some individuals.
- The therapy works by enhancing cellular function and blood circulation, as the specific wavelengths (typically 630-670nm and 810-880nm) penetrate skin tissues to energize cells.
- While generally considered safe with minimal side effects, results vary between individuals and may take several weeks of consistent use to become noticeable.
- Home devices are available (ranging from handheld units to full-body panels), but professional treatments at clinics may provide more powerful and targeted therapy.
- Those with photosensitivity conditions or taking certain medications should consult healthcare providers before beginning treatment, as supported by the guidelines of care for the management of actinic keratosis 1.
- The use of longer ALA application times (1 hour to 4 hours) over shorter application times is favored to enhance complete clearance of AKs, with a conditional recommendation for ALA-red light PDT over 35% TCA peel reactions during illumination 1.
- Additionally, ALA-daylight PDT is conditionally recommended as less painful, but equally effective as ALA-red light PDT, with 96% and 97% rates of lesion reduction in the daylight and conventional PDT arms, respectively 1.
From the Research
Benefits of Red Light Therapy
- Red light therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation, has been shown to promote tissue healing and alleviate pain 2, 3.
- The absorption of red/near-infrared light energy enhances mitochondrial ATP production, cell signaling, and growth factor synthesis, and attenuates oxidative stress 3.
- LLLT has been used to treat various conditions, including skin rejuvenation, acne vulgaris, wound healing, body contouring, and androgenic alopecia 3.
Wound Healing
- LLLT has been shown to promote wound healing by increasing the percentage reduction in wound size and the rate of complete wound healing 2.
- A study found that LLLT reduced pain in patients with skin wounds, with visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain being significantly lower in the LLLT group after treatment 2.
- Another study found that low-level green laser therapy promoted wound healing after carbon dioxide fractional laser therapy by improving the integrity of the skin barrier and allowing for scarless healing 4.
Mechanism and Efficacy
- The mechanism of LLLT in promoting wound healing is not fully understood, but it is thought to involve the enhancement of cellular processes such as cell proliferation and collagen production 5.
- Some studies have reported improvements in surgical wound healing in animal models, but these results have not been consistently replicated in human studies 5.
- Well-designed, adequately powered, independent clinical trials are needed to fully establish the efficacy of LLLT in promoting wound healing 3, 5.