Illuminate Your Wellness Journey with Red Light and Infrared Therapy

By Dr. Adam Abodeely, MD, FACS, FASCRS, MBA, CEO of Coral Cove Wellness Resort

April 24, 2025

Have you heard about red light therapy and infrared (IR) therapy? These innovative, non-invasive treatments are gaining recognition for their remarkable ability to enhance overall wellbeing. Personally, red light therapy has become one of my favorite wellness activities. I’ve found it to be incredibly beneficial for improving mood, enhancing sleep, and making my skin noticeably healthier. It’s become a staple of my daily routine—I use it for 10-15 minutes a day while stretching, and it’s like giving my body and mind a chance to recharge and renew.

Whether it’s promoting pain relief, revitalizing skin health, or boosting collagen production, these therapies are backed by science and provide tangible benefits. From supporting recovery to optimizing your daily vitality, red light and IR therapy offer unique ways to strengthen your holistic wellness approach.

How Does Red Light and Infrared Therapy Work?

Here’s something interesting to consider—in some ways, we are like plants. Just as plants conduct photosynthesis to
grow and thrive, we, too, harness light energy to support our cellular health. Red light therapy is, in essence, our own version of "photosynthesis," capturing light to nourish and power our bodies in profound ways. It’s a reminder that light isn’t just something we see; it’s something we actually benefit from on a biological level.

Imagine a healing light that activates your body’s natural repair mechanisms, almost like charging a battery. That’s the essence of photobiomodulation (PBM), the process by which exposure to specific wavelengths of light influences physiological functions in the body. Red light therapy operates in the 600–700 nanometer range, offering shallow penetration ideal for boosting collagen production, enhancing skin health, and supporting surface-level rejuvenation. Near-infrared (NIR) therapy, on the other hand, works within the 700–1100 nanometer range, enabling deeper penetration to target muscles, tissues, and even bones, reducing inflammation and promoting tissue regeneration. Both therapies harness the power of light energy to stimulate cellular processes and encourage healing and rejuvenation.

At the cellular level, the light penetrates your skin and is absorbed by the mitochondria, which are your body's energy powerhouses. The light excites an enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase within the mitochondria, leading to a boosted production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—the "fuel" your cells need to function and repair. This stimulation helps reduce inflammation, accelerate tissue recovery, and optimize cellular energy production.

This light-driven cellular transformation doesn't stop at improved energy production. PBM also enhances calcium ion flow and nitric oxide modulation, ensuring tissues get adequate oxygen and nutrients while inflammation is reduced. The result? A body that feels more vital, heals quicker, and functions at its peak.

Benefits of Red Light and Infrared Therapy


  • Improved Skin Conditions
    Your skin responds beautifully to red and IR therapy. By stimulating collagen synthesis and accelerating tissue repair, this therapy can reduce wrinkles, acne scars, burn healing time, and hypertrophic scar formation. It also enhances pigmentation in vitiligo and reduces autoimmune responses in conditions like psoriasis.    2,3


  • Collagen Production and Anti-Aging Support
    Collagen is the key to youthful, vibrant skin, but its production slows as we age. Red light therapy works to enhance fibroblast activity in the skin, leading to boosted collagen levels and improved elasticity. Over time, this can reduce fine lines and give your skin a radiant glow.    4


  • Boosted Immunity and Cellular Health
    Red and IR therapy stimulate a cascade of biological processes that improve immunity. By modulating nitric oxide production, reducing oxidative stress, and enhancing mitochondrial function, these therapies strengthen your immune response. This makes them effective not only for general wellbeing but also for recovery from illness and reducing markers of oxidative stress.


  • Cognitive and Neurological Enhancements
    Emerging research also highlights the potential for red light and IR therapy to support mental health. Transcranial application has shown promise in improving symptoms of depression, dementia, and traumatic brain injury. It achieves this by increasing cerebral blood flow, augmenting oxygen consumption, and stimulating neurogenesis and synaptogenesis in the brain.    5


  • Pain Relief and Reduction of Inflammation
    If you suffer from chronic pain or inflammation, red light and IR therapy offer emerging solutions. The light’s ability to stimulate blood flow and reduce inflammatory markers has shown remarkable efficacy in alleviating musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, and neuropathy. Studies even suggest calmed neural activity due to IR exposure, reducing pain perception and swelling.


Revitalize Your Skin After Sun Exposure


Another fascinating benefit of red light therapy is its ability to help your skin recover after sun exposure. Excessive ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage skin cells, leading to inflammation, oxidative stress, and even premature aging. Red light therapy works to counteract these effects by promoting skin repair and soothing inflammation.


The therapy stimulates ATP production in mitochondria, rejuvenating damaged cells and accelerating the healing process. At the same time, it reduces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which contribute to oxidative stress caused by UV exposure. The stimulation of collagen production also helps repair sun-damaged skin, reducing redness and restoring elasticity.


Research supports red light therapy as an effective treatment for minimizing UV-induced skin damage. It can even reduce the appearance of pigmentation irregularities and wrinkles related to sun exposure while enhancing your skin’s overall resilience. Whether you’ve had one too many sunny beach days or want to proactively protect your skin’s health, red light therapy offers a natural, restorative solution.

Integrating Light Therapy into Your Lifestyle


As a wellness advocate, I encourage you to make red light and infrared therapy a pillar of your holistic wellness lifestyle. Red light and infrared therapy are no longer just trends or futuristic ideas; they are evidence-based modalities transforming the wellness landscape, one session at a time. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, addressing chronic conditions, or simply seeking rejuvenation, this advanced therapy offers solutions supported by science and embraced by health professionals worldwide.


Coral Cove Wellness Resort combines the tranquility of a tropical paradise with leading-edge wellness services, giving you the space to recharge and renew. By adding red light and infrared therapy to your wellness toolkit, you’re truly illuminating your body’s natural potential for healing and vitality.



Wishing you health and harmony,


Dr. Adam Abodeely MD, FACS, FASCRS, MBA
CEO, Coral Cove Wellness Resort


References


1.    Dompe, Claudia, et al. "Photobiomodulation—Underlying Mechanism and Clinical Applications." Journal of Clinical

Medicine, vol. 9, no. 1724, 2020, doi:10.3390/jcm9061724.

2.    Avci, Pinar, et al. "Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring." Semin Cutan Med Surg, vol. 32, no. 1, 2013, pp. 41-52.

3.    Cotler, Howard B., et al. "The Use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) For Musculoskeletal Pain." MOJ Orthop Rheumatol, vol. 2, no. 5, 2015, doi:10.15406/mojor.2015.02.00068.

4.    Hamblin, Michael R. "Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation." AIMS Biophysics, vol. 4, no. 3, 2017, pp. 337-361, doi:10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337.

5.    Salehpour, Farzad, et al. "Brain Photobiomodulation Therapy: A Narrative Review." Molecular Neurobiology, vol. 55, no. 8, 2018, pp. 6601-6636, doi:10.1007/s12035-017-0852-4.