{"id":2872,"date":"2024-10-17T13:10:28","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T10:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/?p=2872"},"modified":"2026-05-05T18:08:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:08:06","slug":"kaip-veikia-raudonos-sviesos-terapija","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/en\/2024\/10\/17\/kaip-veikia-raudonos-sviesos-terapija\/","title":{"rendered":"How does red light therapy work?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Have you ever felt exhausted? It could be your cells signaling that they need to recharge. Red light therapy is a natural way to boost your energy levels. Light of a certain wavelength <strong>reaches cells<\/strong> and &quot;stimulates&quot; processes related to <strong>energy production, inflammation regulation and tissue repair<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think of your cells as tiny batteries. Red and near-infrared light can penetrate your skin and recharge these cellular batteries, promoting healing and providing energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why red light? This specific wavelength of light is absorbed by mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells. When mitochondria absorb this light, they become more efficient and produce more energy that your body can use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It all started in the dark when NASA discovered the benefits of red light therapy while experimenting with plant growth. They found that red light accelerated plant growth and healing in human tissue. Since then, numerous studies have confirmed the benefits of red light therapy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How red light therapy works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Red light therapy devices emit <strong>wavelengths of red and near-infrared (NIR) light<\/strong>, which are similar to <strong>part of the sunlight spectrum<\/strong>, but <strong>does not contain UV radiation<\/strong>. This means: the therapy is not a \u201etan\u201c and should not be compared to \u201ea few hours in the sun\u201c, but it can <strong>affect cellular processes<\/strong>, related to energy production and recovery (Harvard Health Publishing: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/staying-healthy\/red-light-therapy-for-skin-care?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Red light therapy for skin care<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Red light<\/strong> most often referred to as ~<strong>630\u2013700 nm<\/strong> (in some devices, the red limits are &quot;stretched&quot; to ~760 nm);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Near infrared (NIR)<\/strong> often defined as approximately <strong>700\u20131400 nm<\/strong> within the limits (NIST: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nist.gov\/document\/laser-safety-program-final-9-10-08pdf-1?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Laser Safety Program (PDF)<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why does the body &quot;react&quot; to this light?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main scientific explanation: red and NIR light can be absorbed by cells, especially mitochondria, and this is associated with <strong>increased ATP production<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"946\" height=\"924\" src=\"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/metachondrija.png\" alt=\"mitochondijos\" class=\"wp-image-3649\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.0238112790269074;width:283px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/metachondrija.png 946w, https:\/\/stokas.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/metachondrija-300x293.png 300w, https:\/\/stokas.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/metachondrija-768x750.png 768w, https:\/\/stokas.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/metachondrija-12x12.png 12w, https:\/\/stokas.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/metachondrija-900x879.png 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 946px) 100vw, 946px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the \u201efuel\u201c that cells need for regeneration, normal function, and healing processes (PubMed Central: <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6041198\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Brain Photobiomodulation Therapy: A Narrative Review<\/a>):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Light is associated with changes in mitochondrial respiratory chain activity and ATP synthesis;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This can support recovery processes, but the outcome depends on <strong>dose, intensity, distance and frequency<\/strong> (PubMedCentral: <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6041198\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Brain Photobiomodulation Therapy: A Narrative Review<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">660\u2013760 nm red light: what is most commonly used and why?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Red light protocols in cosmetology are often associated with skin appearance goals, as studies evaluate changes related to <strong>collagen metabolism<\/strong> and skin quality indicators (PubMed Central: <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC3926176\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">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<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The most frequently mentioned goals are: <strong>skin texture, fine wrinkles, collagen density indicators<\/strong>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The studies evaluate the results after <strong>a few weeks<\/strong> consistent use, not after multiple sessions (PubMed Central: <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC3926176\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">A Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Red and Near-Infrared Light Treatment\u2026<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">760-1400 nm near-infrared (NIR) light: what does the research show?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NIR light is more often mentioned when talking about <strong>deeper tissues<\/strong> achievement and also transcranial (through the head) photobiomodulation is being studied in neurology and mental health. It is important to formulate precisely: effects such as \u201eimprove memory\u201c or \u201ereduce depression\u201c are not a universal promise for everyone \u2013 it is <strong>active research area<\/strong>, which contains both clinical trials and reviews (PubMed Central: <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC4556873\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Near-Infrared Transcranial Radiation for Major Depressive Disorder<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There are published double-blind, placebo-controlled studies evaluating the use of NIR for depressive symptoms (PubMed Central: <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC4556873\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Near-Infrared Transcranial Radiation for Major Depressive Disorder<\/a>);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are also reviews describing the mechanisms and potential applications for brain function (PubMed Central: <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6041198\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Brain Photobiomodulation Therapy: A Narrative Review<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does light \u201eturn on\u201c cellular processes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Light photons are absorbed in cells, and one of the often mentioned &quot;targets&quot; is part of the mitochondrial respiratory chain - <strong>cytochrome c oxidase<\/strong>. This may alter the signaling associated with <strong>ATP (energy)<\/strong>, <strong>reactive oxygen species (ROS)<\/strong>, <strong>calcium signals<\/strong> and <strong>nitric oxide (NO)<\/strong> (PubMedCentral: <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7356229\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Photobiomodulation\u2014Underlying Mechanism and Clinical Applications<\/a>):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The mechanism often cited is: changes in cytochrome c oxidase activity;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Possible NO \u201erelease\u201c and signaling changes;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Low-level ROS may act as a signal rather than a \u201edamage\u201c;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Results depend on the dose \u2013 \u201emore\u201c does not always mean \u201ebetter\u201c.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, this means that red light therapy is not an \u201eovernight miracle.\u201c More often, it is a gentle biological push in the right direction, if the parameters are chosen logically. Therefore, the most common mistake at home is too much distance, too short a time, and too infrequent a frequency. When the protocol \u201efalls apart,\u201c a person says: \u201eit doesn\u2019t work,\u201c although in reality he or she is not receiving a sufficient dose. It\u2019s similar to sports: once a month usually doesn\u2019t give an effect. That\u2019s why it\u2019s worth having a clear routine that is easy to repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why choose red light therapy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Studies show that red light therapy is a promising direction in the context of skin and some health areas, but the effectiveness depends heavily on the choice of the right equipment and the correct protocol (Harvard Health Publishing: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/staying-healthy\/red-light-therapy-for-skin-care?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Red light therapy for skin care<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Choose devices with clear parameters (wavelength, intensity, recommended distance);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Follow the manufacturer&#039;s protocol, as &quot;too short\/too far\/too infrequent&quot; is usually what creates the impression that it &quot;doesn&#039;t work&quot;;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you have a medical condition, photosensitivity, or are taking photosensitizing medications, it is a good idea to consult a specialist (Cleveland Clinic: <a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/articles\/22114-red-light-therapy?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Red Light Therapy: Benefits, Side Effects &amp; Uses<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Red light therapy acts as a pulse of energy to cells \u2013 mitochondria, which, upon receiving a light stimulus, begin to produce ATP, the energy the body needs for regeneration, healing and repair. As a result, the environment for tissue renewal improves, inflammatory processes are easier to manage, and the skin can look smoother and more vibrant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ready to try it? <a href=\"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/en\/rekomenduojame\/\" title=\"We recommend\">Red light devices <\/a>emits a concentrated dose of red and near-infrared light to help you feel your best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.kt-accordion-id2872_7a3cc5-0f .kt-accordion-inner-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:8px;}.kt-accordion-id2872_7a3cc5-0f .kt-accordion-panel-inner{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kt-accordion-id2872_7a3cc5-0f > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xxs, 0.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-accordion-id2872_7a3cc5-0f .kt-accordion-inner-wrap{display:block;}.kt-accordion-id2872_7a3cc5-0f .kt-accordion-inner-wrap .kt-accordion-pane:not(:first-child){margin-top:8px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-accordion alignnone\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-wrap kt-accordion-id2872_7a3cc5-0f kt-accordion-has-4-panes kt-active-pane-0 kt-accordion-block kt-pane-header-alignment-left kt-accodion-icon-style-basic kt-accodion-icon-side-right\" style=\"max-width:none\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-inner-wrap\" data-allow-multiple-open=\"false\" data-start-open=\"0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-1 kt-pane2872_0f14d6-40\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">FAQ<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It acts as a biological stimulus: red and near-infrared light reaches tissues, and cells (especially mitochondria) respond by increasing the efficiency of energy production. This makes it easier for the body to \u201esupport\u201c regeneration and repair processes.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-2 kt-pane2872_0d8777-df\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">How are mitochondria involved in red light therapy?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mitochondria are the \u201epowerhouses\u201c of the cell. When photons of red or near-infrared light reach a cell, some of them are absorbed by light-sensitive \u201etargets\u201c in the mitochondria. This acts as a signal that the mitochondria can <strong>produce ATP more efficiently<\/strong> \u2013 the energy that the cell needs for work, regeneration and repair. Simply put, light \u201estimulates energy production mode\u201c, so the cell has more resources for repair and normal functions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-3 kt-pane2872_cba96c-9a\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">Does the distance of a red light device matter?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The effect of light therapy decreases as you move away from the light source. Too much distance means that too little energy reaches the skin, so the mitochondria receive too little stimulation. As a result, two people with the same device may get different results simply because one uses 15-30 cm and the other uses 80-100 cm.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-4 kt-pane2872_14bb7f-d6\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">How does light penetrate skin and tissues?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Penetration is determined by 3 things: <strong>wavelength, tissue properties and distance\/intensity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Red light<\/strong> usually penetrates the skin and superficial tissues;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Near infrared (NIR)<\/strong> penetrates deeper because it is less &quot;scattered&quot; by some tissues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, this means: if the target is facial skin, red light is often sufficient; if the target is a local area (muscles, joint area), NIR or a combined mode is more often chosen.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever felt exhausted? It could be your cells signaling that they need to recharge. Red light therapy is a natural\u2026<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7980,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2872"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2872\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9079,"href":"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2872\/revisions\/9079"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stokas.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}