Does Red Light Therapy Give You Vitamin D?

By Bob Jones May13,2023

People suffering from vitamin D deficiency can use supplements and food sources rich in the nutrient to address it, including dairy products, orange juice that’s been fortified with it and fish.

Light therapy may also provide some benefit, though care must be taken when using devices emitting UVB rays as too much exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer.

Red light

Red light therapy is a form of photobiomodulation that utilizes different wavelengths of light to support cellular health and balance, improving energy levels, reducing inflammation, soothing pain and discomfort, improving sleep and supporting skin health. According to studies conducted so far, this therapy may also be used as a treatment option for specific conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Studies on the Benefits of Red Light

Research into red light therapy continues, but preliminary findings reveal numerous health-related benefits. One key mechanism at work here is its triggering of hormesis – a low dose stress process in cells which leads to protein synthesis and enzyme activation while strengthening anti-inflammatory and antioxidant defence systems and increasing resistance against damage. Red light therapy can also increase blood flow bringing oxygen and nutrients throughout your body’s cells.

Psoriasis can be difficult to treat with other methods, yet red light therapy has proven extremely helpful in relieving its symptoms. A 2010 study demonstrated how two 20-minute sessions of red light increased the number of cells that absorb UVB radiation and produce vitamin D, potentially helping those suffering from treatment-resistant psoriasis to alleviate symptoms more effectively.

Electrotherapy can also be used to treat eczema, acne and other skin conditions by stimulating collagen production to tighten and lessen skin sagging; improve skin elasticity; decrease fine lines and wrinkles and help speed healing; enhance wound healing due to increasing production of fibroblasts which produce collagen; resultantly leading to faster healing times and reduced scarring.

Red light therapy may also prove useful in combatting depression. It works as a natural mood enhancer by increasing melatonin production – helping relax and promote better quality sleep; additionally it stimulates serotonin production which in one study was proven just as effective in improving one’s state of mind compared with Prozac!

Note, though, that this approach should not be seen as a magic bullet for depression; nor should it replace professional care and healthy lifestyle habits such as nutrition and physical activity. Diets high in processed food may actually limit your body’s production of vitamin D. Therefore, if you are suffering from depression and want to try red light therapy as part of a solution, be sure to speak to your physician beforehand in order to make sure it’s appropriate. They may also recommend other ways of naturally increasing vitamin D levels, including increasing sun exposure, taking vitamin D supplements and eating foods high in vitamin D content. You can find numerous vitamin D products online and at health food stores nearby. Vitamin D supplements are typically sold in drop form or capsule form; you can even visit your dentist or dermatologist to get them. But for an easier and portable option, check out this device from Seattle-area startup Solius that lets you absorb vitamin D directly through the skin.