The benefits of red and near-infrared light

Very often we forget it, but our body has a fundamental and natural need: light. For millions of years, humans have lived in constant exposure to sunlight, which provides a wide spectrum of beneficial wavelengths. Today, on the contrary, we spend most of the day indoors, under artificial lighting poor in useful stimuli for our body. 

Daily exposure to natural light – ideally for 7-8 hours a day – contributes to the proper functioning of numerous physiological processes. Among the wavelengths most studied for their therapeutic effects are red light andnear-infrared light, which are now at the center of photobiomodulation, which is increasingly used to improve psycho-physical well-being. 

HOW DOES LIGHT WORK ON OUR BODY?  

The action of light on the human body is deeply linked to the functioning of cells. Red and near-infrared light are able to penetrate tissues at different depths, activating a key process for cellular life: the increase in the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the body's main energy molecule. 

Each cell contains mitochondria, known as the body's "power plants." These organelles transform light energy into biochemical energy, which is essential for proper cellular functioning.  

Recent studies have shown that alterations in mitochondrial function are at the root of most diseases and aging processes. However, when properly stimulated by red and infrared light, mitochondria can increase ATP production, providing the fuel needed for numerous vital processes including: 

• Repair 
• Cell regeneration
• tissue healing 
• elimination of toxins 
• blood oxygenation 
• the production of endogenous antioxidants
• Reducing aging  

The result, therefore, is a profound regenerative effect, which acts not only at the cellular level, but also at the systemic level. 

PHOTOBIOMODULATION: WHEN DOES LIGHT BECOME THERAPEUTIC? 

It is important to emphasize that only certain wavelengths, if used with the correct parameters, can produce truly beneficial effects on the body. In the therapeutic field, we talk about photobiomodulation, a process that uses specific wavelengths and controlled intensities, capable of stimulating and regulating cells. 

As we have just seen, red and near-infrared light stand out because they interact directly with mitochondria, improving cellular energy efficiency. It is precisely this precision that makes light therapy safe and effective, when performed with appropriate protocols and intensities. 

Although they are often mentioned together, red light and near-infrared light have complementary but different actions, mainly related to the different depth of penetration into the tissues. 

The benefits of red light (650 nanometers, nm): 

• Superficial and metabolic action: Red light acts mainly on the most superficial layers of tissues (skin, subcutaneous, microcirculation), exerting an important metabolic and regenerative action. 
• Reduction of superficial pain: It helps relieve mild muscle and joint pain, contractures and localized tension, thanks to the modulation of inflammatory mediators. 
• Local anti-inflammatory action: It supports the modulation of inflammatory processes in superficial skin and muscle-tendon conditions. 
• Improvement of microcirculation: It stimulates vasodilation and oxygenation of superficial tissues, promoting drainage, tissue vitality and local metabolic recovery. 
• Surface cell regeneration: It promotes cell renewal and accelerates tissue repair processes, supporting the healing of superficial wounds and micro-injuries. 
• Stimulation of collagen and elastin production: It improves skin elasticity, tone and firmness, contributing to the improvement of skin quality. 

What are the main results in the aesthetic field? 

Red light acts as a biological activator, supporting the skin's natural regeneration processes and progressively improving the quality and appearance of the skin. Among the most frequent benefits are:

• Greater density and firmness thanks to the support of collagen synthesis, with possible reduction of wrinkles. 
• Increased tone and improved elasticity, with a visible effect on skin laxity. 
• More efficient microcirculation, which promotes oxygenation and nourishment of the tissues, improving brightness and uniformity. 
• Optimized cell turnover, useful for smoothing the surface and supporting the renewal of the stratum corneum. 
• Soothing action, with reduction of micro-inflammation, swelling and signs of skin stress. 

The benefits of near-infrared light (850 nm): 

• Deep and systemic action: Near-infrared light penetrates deeper than red light, reaching muscles, joints, nerves, and innermost structures. This is why it is particularly suitable for deep regenerative and anti-inflammatory processes. 
• Increased mitochondrial ATP production: It improves cellular energy, supporting metabolism and deep tissue function. 
• Reduction of pain and deep inflammation: Useful in case of muscle and joint pain, tendinopathies and chronic inflammatory conditions. 
• Deep tissue regeneration and recovery: It supports the repair processes of muscles, ligaments and joints, accelerating post-workout recovery and reducing muscle fatigue. 
• Improved circulation: Stimulatescell oxygenation and promotes blood circulation. 
• Effects on the nervous system: It helps reduce neuronal oxidative stress and improve neurological resilience , stress and mental fatigue. 

The combined action: a synergistic effect

When used together, red and near-infrared light generate a synergistic effect: 

– red light acts more on the surface, skin and metabolic level

– near-infrared works deeper on muscles, joints and nervous system

This combination allows for comprehensive action, from the surface to the deep tissues, supporting cellular and systemic well-being. 

ONLY RED AND INFRARED? WITH TAOPATCH® YOU HAVE MUCH MORE! 

Bringing the benefits of light therapy into everyday life is now possible thanks to Taopatch® medical nanotechnology, a mini-laser the size of a coin, which can be applied to the skin via a patch. It is activated thanks to natural light and body heat. Inside, special nanocrystals called Quantum Dots (Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023) transform the received light into a wide spectrum of beneficial wavelengths, including red and near-infrared light, emitting them constantly and continuously. 

In addition to wearable devices, Tao Technologies has developed high-intensity LaserLED light therapy instruments, designed for professional use. Unlike all other light therapy lamps, in those made by Tao Technologies, red light and infrared light are not only the main therapy, but are also the energy used to excite nanotechnology and to greatly expand the number of wavelengths and therapeutic efficacy. 

While normal LEDs produce a diffused light, with a certain penetrative capacity, Taopatch® nanotechnology, thanks to Quantum Dots, uses the light produced by LEDs to transform it into coherent (in phase) light, obtaining an effect more similar to that of a laser and therefore deeper and more therapeutic. 

The other important effect is the multiplication process. In fact, these two groups of light (red and infrared), passing through nanotechnology, multiply by covering a much wider spectrum of light: all the types of light that the body needs. 

In an era in which health requires increasingly natural, systemic and personalized approaches, light therapy according to Taopatch® represents a valuable resource for health in every area. Photobiomodulation is a scientifically based technology (hundreds of thousands of studies) that acts at the basis of life: cellular energy.

Communication aimed at professional operators.