(NewsNation) — With the help of social media, red light therapy has become a popular treatment for skin conditions, wrinkles, redness, scars and acne. But before TikTokers, there were astronauts.
NASA originally began working with red light therapy, a non-invasive treatment that uses red or near-infrared light, on plant growth in space and later found it helped heal astronauts’ wounds.
RLT is accessible in some dermatologists’ offices, which offer in-office treatments. Devices are also sold for at-home treatment.
Regular RLT treatments may help with improving skin health and cosmetic appearance by increasing collagen in the skin, increasing circulation between blood and tissue cells, and reducing fine lines and the severity of wrinkles in the skin, a National Institutes of Health study found.
RLT has not been associated with any side effects if used short-term and with a dermatologist consultation. The treatment also does not use ultraviolet (UV) lights, which has been linked to increased cancer risk.