Does Red Light Therapy Help Cellulite?

Having stubborn fat that refuses to just go away despite tons of exercise and dieting is one of the most frustrating things ever. If you've been looking for effective ways to safely get rid of stubborn cellulite, reduce the excess fat in your body or get back in shape, then you should probably start considering red light therapy.

You might be wondering: “Does red light therapy help cellulite reduction and stimulate weight loss?” We'll answer that question in this article and show you how research has proven that one of the safest and natural ways to lose body fat and cellulite is through red light therapy treatment.

But before we show that, let's have some basic information on cellulite.

What is cellulite

In simple terms, cellulite is fat. Just like cottage cheese, it has a rough, lumpy, and dimpled appearance. However, the difference between fat and cellulite is that why fat is majorly a health issue, cellulite is more of a cosmetic one.

Cellulite is formed when the fat beneath the skin(subcutaneous fat) is compressed by a mesh of collagen fibers that joins the skin to the muscles lying beneath it. Cellulite is usually found around the buttocks, abdomen, hips, and thighs.

What Causes Cellulite?

Cellulite is a quite common occurrence. Although, with a ratio of 90 to 10, it is more pronounced in women.

Cellulite is easily noticed in obese and overweight people, this is because these people have excess fat in them which in turn ends up being compressed against the connective tissues, which causes a protrusion in the skin.

Still, this is not to say that cellulite is limited to overweight or obese people. Many factors cause the development of cellulite, thus it can be found even in lean and fit people.

Factors like hormones, age, and genetics can affect the formation and development of cellulite. Cellulite development is usually much more rampant in old people, however, middle-aged people can also develop it, but this will most likely be caused by weight gain.

As the body grows older, it loses its ability to produce elastin and collagen – fibers that make your skin firm and elastic – and this can make the underlying fat in the skin more noticeable.

Using RLT To Reduce Cellulite And Stimulate Weight Loss

Weight loss is currently one of the most trending topics in the health and cosmetic industry and cellulite reduction is gradually following in its footstep.

There are now various liposuction treatments and other remedies to remove excess fat, reduce cellulite and induce weight loss.

Many people take different approaches like injecting fillers, following strict and sometimes unhealthy diets, doing spot reduction exercises so on and still end up getting frustrated when it seems like they are not getting the results they want.

Let's take a quick look at some ways people have tried to get rid of cellulite.

Lasers And Skin Fillers

These two procedures are one of the most expensive remedies for cellulite reduction, however, they only offer a temporary reduction.

Laser Remedies:

This process involves the use of high-powered laser beams to explode fat cells. These treatments are usually very expensive and can only be carried out by plastic surgeons and dermatologists.

This treatment comes with the risk of getting burnt and it could also be dangerous if not properly done as there is also the risk of popping normal healthy cells in an attempt to pop the fat ones.

In addition, this treatment is a temporary fix because it does not necessarily improve the elasticity of the skin. After the fat cells have been popped, there is a chance that skin might not shrink to fill up the space, thus leaving the skin saggy.

Skin Fillers:

These are injections with dermal fillers. Just like laser treatments, they are also very expensive and they only offer a temporary reduction in dimpling.

They also have to be used continuously.

There are different types of skin fillers, some of them are :

Poly – L – Lactic Acid:

This acid is believed to help with the production of collagen. However, it is not naturally produced in the body. It is a synthetic acid and it has been used in the manufacture of medical devices like dissolvable stitches.

It is usually made in the form of a gel and introduced into the body, it dissolves after a few days but it can be effective for 2 years or so and enhances the body's production of collagen.

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA):

Just like Poly – L – Lactic Acid, this is also a synthetic filler. It contains collagen and it is injected into the skin where it creates a microsphere that remains permanently under the skin to help stimulate the production of collagen from the body.

In a study carried out in 2015, it was shown that the filler can cause foreign body immune reactions and other side effects and complications.

Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA):

This is found mainly in the bones. It occurs naturally in the body and is made in form of a gel. This gel can last for about 12 months before the body reabsorbs it and then, it must be re-injected again.

Hyaluronic acid (HA):

This also occurs naturally in the skin. It is the substance in the skin that keeps it hydrated and gives it a glowing and plump look. Just like most fillers, it is also suspended in a gel and can take 6  to 12 months before it gets absorbed by the body.

Lifestyle Changes

Many people have tried to adopt healthy lifestyles and exercise as a way of reducing cellulite. While this is a good alternative for weight loss and better health, it won't do so much for cellulite reduction.

The only way these can reduce cellulite is by helping to ease the pressure of the excess fat against the connective tissues.

This is not an ideal method for lean people whose cellulite is caused by genetics. This is because their skin will still show some form of dimpling when the excess subcutaneous fat is gone.

The most effective way to reduce cellulite is by increasing collagen production so that the skin becomes thicker and more elastic, thus, minimizing the appearance of cellulite and forming a firm mesh where fat will not easily pass through.

Skin Firming Creams

Skin firming creams have started becoming popular, however, there is no scientific evidence to back up how effective they are in toning and contouring the body.

These creams are based on the theory that just like natural collagen, they can help tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Still, any effect they might have is minimal and provides temporary relief. These creams also contain active ingredients that can irritate people with sensitive skin.

Some of the active ingredients in these creams are ;

Retinol:

This is a substance derived from vitamin A. It increases the production of collagen and also helps to thicken the skin. However, if you have sensitive skin, you might want to steer clear of this substance as it has been shown to cause adverse reactions like pain, tightness, and redness.

Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE):

This is a natural antioxidant and is found in fish. It gives the skin a firm and plump look. Little research has been carried out on it, thus there is not much information about its long-term safety.

Caffeine:

This is a diuretic and a vasoconstrictor. It increases blood pressure and reduces the size of the blood vessel. Its diuretic property helps it to temporarily dehydrate fat cells, but studies have also shown that it can cause itching and other adverse side effects.

Most of these treatments are expensive, offers just a temporary fix, and are even likely to have side effects

Red Light Therapy: An Effective Cellulite Reduction Alternative

Red light therapy treatment is one of the safest, natural and, non-invasive ways of effectively losing weight and reducing cellulite.

You might probably still be confused and wondering “Does red light therapy help reduce cellulite?” And the short answer is: “Yes, it does”

Continue reading on as we explain the mechanism behind this.

With the aid of LED bulbs, devices, and lamps, red lights and near-infrared lights are made to penetrate the body.

These lights probe deeply into the cells where they stimulate the production of ATP – the molecule responsible for carrying energy in living cells. This in turn provides the cells with more energy to grow, repair, and heal themselves.

How Red Light Therapy Helps To Reduce Cellulite

Red light therapy helps to reduce cellulite in the following ways:

Increase in production of elastin:

Elastin is one of the primary protein fibers that the skin and the connective tissues their elastic properties. Once the elastin in the skin is damaged, it is not usually easy to produce new ones.  Red light therapy confers energy on the cell thereby stimulating the growth of fibroblasts and this leads to abundant production of elastin fibers.

Fat Leakage:

Red light forms a small opening in the cell walls by which fatty acids or lipids are made to leak.

In a study carried out in Boston, researchers found out that after 4 minutes of exposure to red light, 80% of the lipids in a particular subject had leaked.

Increase in Production of Collagen :

Fibroblasts are fibers that are used to produce collagen. Red light therapy has been proven to activate the growth of fibroblasts, thus, increasing the production of collagen, making the skin and the underlying connective tissues thick and more elastic. This way, subcutaneous fat remains compressed as it should be.

Increased Cellular Metabolism and Energy:

Mitochondria – the energy center of the cells – absorbs the light photons radiating from the lights and this is used to increase the production of energy in the cells, making the cells healthy and firm.

20 female participants between the ages of 25 to 55 were involved in a clinical trial carried out to test the effect of red light therapy on the reduction of cellulite.

The participants were divided into 2 groups and the control group was involved in high-intensity treadmill training only while the other group trained alongside exposure to 850nm near-infrared light therapy. It was discovered that the group which trained alongside NIR showed a significant cellulite reduction.

NOTE: After 15 months of treatment, an evaluation was carried out and the results showed that 5 participants had reverted to their previous body, that is their pre-treatment cellulite body.

This, therefore, means that consistent and maintenance treatment is needed after the therapy.

Conclusion

Don't be surprised to see other positive changes like hair growth, improved skin health, and more agility when you start using RLT.

Red light therapy is a safe, non-invasive and natural way to reduce cellulite. It gives far more benefits than other alternatives because of its safety, and versatility.