Red Light Therapy: A Natural Way to Support Skin, Energy, and Pain Relief

Feeling drained, dealing with chronic pain, or noticing your skin losing its glow? It might be time to try red light therapy.

Red light therapy uses low-level wavelengths of red and near-infrared light. It’s used in functional medicine to help your body heal from within, and it’s used in aesthetic care to promote healthier, more youthful-looking skin.

At Aletheia Integrative in Lincoln, Nebraska, Dr. Jaime K. Dodge and our integrative care team use red light therapy as part of a holistic approach to boost your energy, ease pain, and rejuvenate your skin.

Here’s what you need to know.

How does red light therapy work?

Red light therapy activates your mitochondria. These are your body’s cellular “powerhouses” that convert the food you eat into the energy source — adenosine triphosphate (ATP) — that your cells use. ATP is your cells’ main source of energy. It’s also the fuel that your body uses for healing and repair.

When exposed to specific light wavelengths, your cells absorb the energy and begin producing more ATP. This increase in energy allows your body to:

Reduce inflammation and oxidative stress
Improve blood flow and tissue oxygenation
Stimulate collagen production
Repair damaged cells and promote new tissue growth

The result? More radiant skin, less pain, and improved energy levels.

Red light benefits for skin, energy, and pain relief

Because all of the cells in your body use ATP, red light therapy can address many of your concerns.

For your skin

Red light therapy supports collagen and elastin production. Collagen and elastin are two types of proteins that help minimize wrinkles, fine lines, acne, and scarring.

Red light therapy can also help calm redness and improve your skin’s texture.

For your energy

Because it enhances mitochondrial function, red light therapy may reduce fatigue and support better metabolism and endurance, which helps you feel more energized throughout your day.

For your pain

Photomodulation therapy, which includes LED-based red light therapy, can improve your circulation, reduce inflammation, and encourage faster recovery. For this reason, red light therapy can help ease chronic joint or muscle pain. You might also use it to promote healing after injuries.

According to research published in the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, red light therapy works best on pain that presents with inflammation. This includes osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and temporomandibular disorders.

What to expect during your red light therapy session

Red light therapy is 100% noninvasive. During your red light therapy session, you simply relax while the light gently shines on your skin. Most sessions last between 20 and 40 minutes. As you sit, the light penetrates deep into your tissues and activates your body’s natural healing response.

Many people notice benefits after just a few sessions, but because the effects are cumulative, a series of treatments produces the best results.

How we integrate red light therapy into your care

At Aletheia Integrative, red light therapy isn’t just an aesthetic treatment. It’s part of a personalized, science-based approach to healing. Dr. Dodge often combines red light therapy with other restorative treatments like infusion therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and nutritional protocols. Together, these treatments and protocols work to amplify your body’s own ability to heal.

Whether you’re managing chronic pain, recovering from illness, or simply pursuing graceful aging, our team can create a holistic plan that supports your goals.

Call Aletheia Integrative today at 531-333-2037, or book your red light therapy session online.