Are there benefits to using green light therapy?
The short answer, yes.
In a number of studies, green light therapy devices have shown success treating everything from inflammatory skin conditions and migraines to pain relief and mood enhancement [
1,
2,
3,
4].
In this article, we’ll discuss what green light therapy is and what its science-backed benefits are.
If you’re looking for a non-invasive treatment to improve wound healing, reduce dark spots, or provide pain relief – green light therapy may just be the way to go!
What Is Green Light Therapy?
As mentioned, green light therapy is a form of low-level light therapy or photobiomodulation. It has been shown to:
-Boost mitochondrial function, stimulating cell growth and repair [
5]
-Release endogenous opioids (which are part of the body’s built-in analgesic system) to provide lasting pain relief [
6]
-Promote fibroblast activity, increasing collagen production [
7].
Green light wavelengths, typically 495 – 570 nm, penetrate the skin’s surface and interact with cells in our bodies. On a cellular level, green light exposure reaches the mitochondria and stimulates adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production via cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) [
5].
Mitochondria are the “energy powerhouses” of our bodies that play a crucial role in cell growth and repair. In essence, the more mitochondrial activity there is, the healthier our cells are.
Green light treatment has the following benefits:
-Increases fat loss
-Improves skin health (especially for inflammatory skin conditions)
-Speeds up wound healing
-Reduces cellulite appearance
-Reduces pain (acute and chronic)
Green Light Therapy Benefits
Before we go any further, it is clear that green light therapy is 100% safe to use. It is a non-invasive treatment that’s shown immense benefits for patients suffering from several ailments.
We reviewed a number of studies, and the patients in these studies reported little to no adverse effects.
Let’s take a closer at the benefits of green light:
Fat Loss:
Green light therapy may aid in fat loss through its potential effects on fat cells.
When green light penetrates the skin, it targets adipocytes (fat cells), triggering certain biological processes. Fat cells become temporarily perforated (i.e. there are holes in the cell membrane), leading to the release of lipids from the adipocyte cells. This leads to smaller adipocytes, i.e. less fat.
One study found 532 nm green laser light to:
-Reduce body weight by 1 kg (~2.2 lbs)
-Reduce waist circumference by 2 in
-Lower body mass index (BMI) by 2 points
-Reduce body fat mass by 1.1 kg (~2.4 lbs)
More importantly, participants reported significant improvements in quality of life, body satisfaction, and body appreciation [
15].
As a result, green light therapy may be a promising non-invasive weight loss treatment.
Based on the above study, using low-level laser therapy twice weekly for six weeks might provide the best results for weight loss.
Cellulite:
As mentioned above, green wavelengths may target adipose tissues to trigger fat loss – which may provide benefits for those with cellulite. In a double-blind study, 68 patients (34 in the treatment group, 34 in the control group) underwent 30-minute treatments 3 times a week for 2 weeks.
56% of those that received 532 nm green light experienced a cellulite reduction, measured by improvements in Nurnberger-Muller Scale scores. These patients also reported a reduction in thigh circumference, body weight, and BMI [
16].
In other words, green light therapy may be a promising new treatment for cellulite.
Skin Health:
Green light therapy may help
promote healthy skin and may have a positive impact on age-related skin issues. Studies have shown that exposure to green wavelengths increases the growth and migration (movement) of skin cells, which is crucial for collagen production, skin repair, and wound healing [
8].
In another study, researchers found green light to stimulate the release of nitric oxide, a molecule responsible for vasodilation (the widening of our blood vessels) – which improves blood circulation. While not as effective as red light, it still had positive effects [
9].
What this shows is an improvement in cell health and repair, which may result in smoother skin – especially when combined with red light therapy.
Green light therapy devices have also been used to treat skin-related inflammatory diseases, such as eczema and psoriasis. Researchers found green light to reduce inflammation in the skin [
10].
One interesting study found green light therapy to potentially have protective effects against UV light. Cells that were exposed to green light had a
higher survival rate and lower amounts of free radicals [
11].