Red Light Therapy Benefits: Skin, Pain, Hair Growth, and Clinic Options

By: Dr. Shane Kurth, D.C., BCN

Updated March 2026

Editor’s note: This guide was written by the clinical team at Radiant Results, a red light therapy clinic in Sandy, Utah. We’ve worked with clients pursuing skin, pain relief, recovery, and body sculpting goals, and we’ve drawn on published research from Harvard Health, the Cleveland Clinic, and the FDA to present realistic, grounded information.

Key Takeaways

• Red light therapy benefits come from red and near-infrared light that supports how cells produce energy for normal repair work.
• People most commonly use it for skin tone, fine lines, joint and muscle comfort, post-activity recovery, and hair thinning support.
• Clinic sessions using medical-grade devices with consistent settings tend to produce clearer, more trackable results than most home devices.
• Most people see the best results with a structured plan — typically 2–3 sessions per week over several weeks.
• Red light therapy is generally safe, but check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant, take light-sensitive medications, or have certain health conditions.

Quick Reference: What People Use It For and When to Expect Change

Goal	What People Often Notice	Typical Timeline*
Skin tone and fine lines	Smoother, more even appearance	4–6 sessions
Pain and soreness	Less stiffness, better comfort	2–6 weeks
Hair thinning support	Less shedding, fuller look	8–16 weeks
Post-workout recovery	Less heavy soreness after activity	2–4 weeks

*Timing varies by person, condition, and session schedule.

What Is Red Light Therapy?

People search for red light therapy benefits because they want a safe, non-invasive way to support skin, comfort, recovery, or hair goals — without surgery, medication, or downtime.

Red light therapy uses specific bands of red and near-infrared light that can reach the skin and, in some cases, deeper tissue. The process is often called photobiomodulation — which simply means light that influences how cells function. The goal is to support the body’s normal repair processes at the cellular level.

Here’s the straightforward science: your cells contain mitochondria, which help convert oxygen and nutrients into usable energy called ATP. When the right light wavelengths reach the body, mitochondria may absorb that energy and use it more efficiently — supporting skin repair, tissue recovery, and inflammatory response.

Unlike UV light, red light therapy is not designed to damage skin. It doesn’t tan or burn. Most people describe sessions as warm and relaxing. Sessions are typically short — 10–20 minutes — with no recovery time required.

One reason red light therapy attracts so many different people is its range of applications. Someone focused on skin tone, someone managing knee soreness, and someone dealing with hair thinning can all use a similar form of light therapy — the difference is in the plan, the wavelength emphasis, and how long they commit to it. A medical grade red light therapy guide can help clarify what separates clinic-based treatment from consumer devices.

Harvard Health notes that photobiomodulation is being studied across several applications including pain, tissue healing, and skin, while acknowledging that evidence continues to develop. The Cleveland Clinic similarly describes it as a treatment that may support healing and reduce inflammation, with results depending on the condition and how the therapy is used.

How Red Light Therapy Works

Cellular Energy and ATP

Red and near-infrared light penetrate tissue and are absorbed by mitochondria. This may help cells produce more ATP — the energy currency used for repair, collagen production, and recovery. Over time, consistent sessions may support tissue repair, calmer inflammatory signaling, skin collagen activity, and better comfort in muscles and joints.

Red Light vs. Near-Infrared Light

These wavelengths work at different depths, which is why clinics typically use both:

Red light (~630–660nm) focuses on surface skin layers — commonly used for tone and texture improvement, softening fine lines, and calming uneven redness.

Near-infrared light (~810–850nm) reaches deeper tissue — commonly used for muscle soreness, joint comfort, and post-activity recovery.

Many clients benefit from both in a single full-body session, addressing skin appearance and physical comfort at the same time.

Circulation and Nitric Oxide

Some research suggests red light therapy may support the body’s release of nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels relax. Nitric oxide and improved local circulation allow tissue to receive oxygen and nutrients more efficiently — contributing to faster recovery and reduced soreness.

Endorphin Release and Mood

Some people also report an improved sense of wellbeing after sessions. This may partly relate to the body’s natural release of endorphins during and after treatment — which could explain why regular clients often mention better mood and easier sleep alongside physical improvements.

Why Dose and Consistency Are the Real Variables

The three factors that most influence results are:

• Wavelength — using the right light bands (red and near-infrared)
• Dose — the combination of light strength, session length, and distance from the device
• Consistency — repeating sessions over weeks, not days

This is where clinic-based treatment has a practical advantage over most home devices. In a clinic, these variables are controlled and repeatable. At home, people often change distance or skip sessions without realizing it, which alters the dose and slows progress.

Factor	What It Means	Practical Tip
Wavelength	Red + near-infrared bands	Confirm both are used
Dose	Strength + time + distance	Follow the clinic’s set plan
Frequency	How often you attend	Start with 2–3 sessions/week
Duration	How long you stay with it	Give it at least 4–8 weeks

Key Red Light Therapy Benefits

People often start with one goal and notice additional improvements once they’ve maintained a consistent schedule. Here’s what the research and clinic experience suggest for each of the main use cases.

1. Skin Health and Anti-Aging

Red light supports collagen activity in the surface layers of the skin. People commonly use it for fine lines, uneven tone, redness, dullness, and mild acne mark support.

What people often notice: smoother skin texture, more even tone, less tired-looking skin, and makeup that sits better on the surface.

Realistic timeline: gradual. Most people notice small shifts around sessions 4–6, with clearer results after completing a full structured plan. A practical habit: take a photo in consistent lighting once a week — day-to-day changes are easy to miss in the mirror. Anti-aging light therapy works on the same principle: steady sessions over time produce the most reliable skin changes.

2. Pain Relief and Comfort Support

Near-infrared light penetrates deeper tissue, making it one of the most common reasons people explore red light therapy — particularly for back, neck, and shoulder soreness, knee and hip stiffness, post-workout muscle pain, and day-to-day aches from standing or repetitive work.

What people often notice: less stiffness, freer movement, and recovery that feels less heavy after demanding days.

Realistic timeline: comfort changes tend to show up sooner than skin changes — sometimes within the first few weeks for people keeping a consistent schedule.

For clients at Radiant Results managing ongoing soreness or joint discomfort, our pain management program is built around structured, repeatable sessions rather than sporadic visits.

3. Hair Thinning and Scalp Support

Red and near-infrared light are used for hair thinning concerns, with the goal of supporting scalp circulation and helping hair follicles remain active. Applications include pattern hair loss in men and women, thinning at the hairline or crown, and stress-related shedding.

Realistic timeline: hair goals require the longest commitment. Most people need 8–16 weeks of consistent use before meaningful change can be assessed — and results vary considerably between individuals.

4. Circulation and Post-Activity Recovery

Improved circulation support is one of the secondary benefits many clients notice, particularly those who are physically active. Better local blood flow supports faster clearance of metabolic waste after workouts, which may translate to less soreness the following day and a shorter overall recovery window.

What to track: how you feel 24 hours after a hard workout, and how quickly soreness fades compared to your baseline before starting sessions.

5. Wound Healing and Medical Uses

Red light therapy has been studied in clinical settings for wound healing support and certain skin conditions. It’s worth noting that photodynamic therapy — used for some skin cancers — is a distinct, separate medical treatment that is not the same as standard wellness-based red light sessions. Any medically complex case should be managed with a healthcare provider’s guidance.

Most Common Goals at a Glance

Based on typical clinic demand, the most frequently cited reasons people start red light therapy are, in order: skin tone and fine lines, muscle recovery and soreness, joint stiffness and daily aches, stress and sleep support, and hair thinning (requiring a longer plan).

How to Get the Most From Red Light Therapy

Clinic vs. At-Home Devices

Clinic-based medical-grade devices deliver more consistent output across larger treatment areas. The primary advantage isn’t just device power — it’s that the variables (time, distance, coverage) are managed for you. That removes the most common reason home users stall: inconsistency.

Harvard Health notes that home LED devices typically have lower power output than clinic devices, which helps explain why they may be safer to use independently but less likely to produce the same intensity of results.

Recommended Session Schedule

A standard starting plan at most clinics is 2–3 sessions per week for 4–6 weeks, then 1–2 sessions per week for maintenance. Skin and comfort goals typically need at least a few weeks of steady visits. Hair goals need more time.

Simple Prep and Aftercare

For skin goals: start each session with clean, dry skin. Moisturize afterward if your skin feels dry. Continue using sunscreen during the day — light therapy supports skin repair, but sun protection is still essential.

For recovery and pain goals: no special prep is needed. Consistency matters more than anything else.

Best Practices Most People Overlook

Don’t judge results after one visit — give it at least 4–6 sessions before assessing. Track one thing: photos for skin, a soreness rating for recovery, or measurements for body goals. And choose a plan you can actually stick to over a simple one you abandon.

At Radiant Results, clients pursuing body sculpting goals can use the Styku 3D body scanner to track measurable changes over time — which makes progress visible even when day-to-day perception lags behind actual change.

Safety and What to Know Before Starting

Red light therapy uses no UV light, breaks no skin, and is widely considered low-risk when done correctly.

Common Side Effects

Side effects are uncommon. When they occur, they’re typically mild and brief — temporary skin warmth, slight redness that fades after the session, or mild eye discomfort if eye guidance isn’t followed.

Eye Safety

Avoid staring directly into the lights. Follow your clinic’s guidance on eye protection, and keep your eyes closed during sessions if no protective eyewear is provided.

Who Should Consult a Doctor First

Check with a healthcare provider before starting if you:

• Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• Have a light-sensitive skin condition
• Take medications that increase light sensitivity
• Have a history of light-triggered seizures
• Are currently undergoing active cancer treatment

The FDA’s guidance on photobiomodulation devices is a useful reference for understanding what these devices are cleared for and how they’re regulated.

Choosing a Quality Clinic

Look for a provider that uses both red and near-infrared wavelengths, sets a specific session frequency and duration plan, tracks progress with photos, measurements, or scans, and provides clear safety guidance including eye care. Vague “come whenever you like” approaches are a sign that the program isn’t designed for results.

Red Light Therapy in Sandy, Utah

If you’re in the Salt Lake Valley and looking to try red light therapy with a structured, medical-grade setup, Radiant Results is located at 870 East 9400 South, Unit 113, Sandy, UT 84094. We serve clients from Sandy, Draper, Murray, South Jordan, and surrounding communities.

We use a full-body medical-grade light therapy bed, offer the Styku 3D scanner for body progress tracking, and build session plans around your specific goals — whether that’s skin, pain relief, recovery, or body sculpting.

The $79 New Patient Special is a low-commitment way to try a session and ask questions before committing to a plan. Call 801.980.0840 or book online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is red light therapy safe for all skin types? For most people, yes. Red and near-infrared light is used across a wide range of skin types. If you have a photosensitive condition or take medications that increase light sensitivity, consult a healthcare provider first.

How long does it take to see results? Skin changes often become noticeable after 4–6 consistent sessions. Pain and recovery benefits may appear sooner — within the first few weeks for people keeping a regular schedule. Hair goals typically require 8–16 weeks before meaningful change can be assessed. Timing varies by person and condition.

Can red light therapy help with chronic pain? It may support comfort and recovery for some people dealing with chronic soreness or inflammatory conditions — but it’s most effective as part of a structured plan rather than occasional use. The Cleveland Clinic notes that results depend on the condition being treated and how the therapy is applied.

What does a clinic session involve? Most clinic sessions use a medical-grade full-body bed or large panel. Sessions run 10–20 minutes and are scheduled as part of a structured plan. There’s no downtime — you can return to normal activity immediately.

Do I need to do anything before or after a session? For skin goals, clean dry skin before a session and moisturize afterward if needed. Continue using sunscreen daily. For pain and recovery goals, no special prep is required. Always follow your clinic’s eye safety guidance.

Is red light therapy available near Sandy, Utah? Yes. Radiant Results is at 870 East 9400 South, Unit 113, Sandy, UT 84094. Claim the $79 New Patient Special to get started, or call 801.980.0840.

Sources:

• Harvard Health: Photobiomodulation / Red Light Therapy
• Cleveland Clinic: Red Light Therapy
• FDA: Light Therapy Home Use Devices

Author bio: Dr. Shane Kurth, D.C., BCN, is the co-owner of Radiant Results and a leading expert in full spectrum medical-grade light therapy and whole-body wellness. With a background in chiropractic care, chronic pain management, and advanced light-therapy applications, Dr. Kurth has dedicated his career to helping people achieve life-changing results through non-invasive, science-backed solutions.

His passion for healing and transformation is the foundation of Radiant Results — a clinic built to offer clients a safe, effective, and empowering path toward body confidence and optimal well-being.

Drawing from years of clinical experience and successful operational leadership at Apex Chiropractic in Colorado, Dr. Kurth helped develop the reproducible light-therapy protocol that powers Radiant Results today. This system has helped thousands of clients reduce stubborn body fat, tighten and rejuvenate their skin, and improve their health without surgery or downtime. At the heart of his work is a simple mission: to help people feel better in their bodies and live more radiant, fulfilling lives.