Red light therapy, which is also known as low-level laser light therapy, is emerging as a highly effective, non-invasive, and safe way to treat many skin conditions. It’s a natural way to improve the energy levels of your skin cells and it can also be used for cellulite.
In this article, we’ll discuss how red-light therapy works for cellulite, the science behind it, and the correct way to use red-light therapy to minimize cellulite symptoms. So, let’s dive right in.
What is Cellulite?
Before diving into the details of how red-light therapy works to help you with cellulite, let’s discuss what cellulite actually is.
Cellulite is basically body fat, and having this on your body is more of a cosmetic issue, rather than a health problem. It’s a lumpy and dimpled appearance that’s usually found on the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, and hips.
Cellulite is usually found in female bodies, and according to recent stats, 80 to 90 percent of women experience this problem.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work to Help with Cellulite?
Red light therapy uses LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) releasing red and/or near-infrared light to irradiate the skin safely. It penetrates your skin to reach mitochondria, allowing them to produce more ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) energy.
It regulates skin cell function, improves blood circulation, and boosts collagen production to reduce cellulite symptoms. It means that red light therapy itself isn’t a cellulite buster, which means it doesn’t reduce body fat directly.
Instead, red light therapy boosts the functionality of your skin cells so that they can perform at their best to decrease the appearance of cellulite, improve body composition, and increase skeletal muscle mass.
Science Behind Red Light Therapy for Cellulite
There are multiple scientific studies, showing the effectiveness of red-light therapy for cellulite. For example, a National Library of Medicine study conducted on two groups of females shows the significance of red-light therapy for cellulite reduction.
The first group of females followed a treadmill training routine, along with near-infrared light therapy. Whereas, the second group only followed high-intensity treadmill training.
The result of this study shows that the first group achieved better results and experienced a significant cellulite reduction. So, red and near-Infrared led illumination applied to the body can reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Another study published in the National Library of Medicine shows that natural red light therapy combined with anti-cellulite gel can help you reduce cellulite appearance.
Participants of this study underwent 24 sessions of red-light therapy (15 minutes per session) and experienced cellulite reduction in the buttocks and thighs.
How to Use Red Light Therapy for Cellulite
The most effective way to use red light therapy and achieve the best results is to combine it with some weight loss treatment or exercise routine, such as a treadmill program because red light therapy enhances the effects of physical exercise.
Make sure that you use a red-light therapy device that comes with a near-infrared light option. That’s because near-infrared will penetrate deeper into your skin to easily reach fat cells and mitochondria to improve their ATP levels.
You can start red light therapy with three to five 15-to-20-minute sessions per week to see how your body responds to it. Then, you can increase or decrease the number and duration of sessions.
Lastly, you’ll need to be consistent and follow red light therapy treatment for at least 2 months (or 24 sessions as per the study discussed above) to experience a reduction in cellulite appearance.
Final Words
Red light therapy is a safe and effective way to treat a range of skin problems, including cellulite. Many scientific studies show the potential of this treatment method to reduce cellulite appearance.
To achieve the best results, we recommend you combine red light therapy with some exercise routine or traditional cellulite treatment. Make sure that you follow the guidelines outlined by your device’s manufacturer for a safe and effective red light therapy experience.