Category: Blog

Written By: Dr. Raleigh Duncan

Pretty much everyone agrees that true beauty comes primarily from healthy eating, exercise, proper rest and a good attitude – or good genes! Science can also help us get the desired look we all want as well. There are chemical peels, laser resurfacing and microneedling to round out a more beautiful you. If more help is needed you can go all in with liposuction, breast augmentation (or reduction) with or without a tummy tuck. Much has been written about what it’s like to go through these procedures, but less is known about what happens the next day to care for yourself in the recovery phase that arrives after the procedure is over. How can you help your tissue heal, reduce the inevitable inflammation, and keep any pain at bay.

Red light therapy and infrared saunas have been at the forefront of the growing health and wellness radar for some time now, but recently interest has skyrocketed for one main reason: they really work. Read on to learn how they can help us to recover and heal after we leave the skin care professional or doctor’s office. And how after recovering, they are useful in eliminating stress, losing weight, detoxifying and facing the inevitable challenges of living and aging in our modern world.

 

Why Red Light Works for Post-Op Care

 

There are two main types of red light available today: stand-alone red lights that look like towers of different heights and typically have fans to keep the high output LEDs cool, and wearable red lights on pads that conform to the body. Wearables like these, including red light face masks, should not be used as the skin will be too sensitive to have direct contact with a mask or anything else and may aggravate the situation rather than help. Once you settle on a  standalone red light, try to use it every day as described above and follow your practitioner’s advice and the manufacturer’s instructions for operation and use, including red light distance from the affected area.

The science behind the red lights evolved out of the NASA space program to heal wounds and grow plants in space. Red light therapy (RLT) is normally comprised of a combination LEDs emitting 660nm (nanometers) which is deep red, and 880 nm which is near infrared or NIR. Red Light Therapy has been extremely well researched with over 1,000 peer reviewed articles and over 4,500 articles on red lights and healing the body.

Red light works to repair the cells of our body with a process called photobiomodulation. Red light puts energy into the mitochondria of our cells in the form of ATP much in the same way that Vitamin D is synthesized in our body from sunlight. Photobiomodulation is a very effective way to heal our bodies and is one of the core tools of anti-aging.

Laser resurfacing and microneedling will have a faster recovery overall, and will benefit greatly from red light and infrared sauna usage. Surgeries such as breast reduction, liposuction and tummy tucks will also benefit in the same ways. For skin procedures, use the recovery plan listed below. Wait until any tenderness and heat have abated in the soft tissue, usually in a few days, before using red light and later the infrared sauna. Caution and consultation with your provider should always be followed for best results.

 

 

Using Red Light Healing for Post-Procedure Skincare

 

Post-Procedure: Day 1

After you get your chemical peel, your skin will be tender, swollen and maybe a little painful. Your skin might even be a little warm. This is the acute phase of inflammation. The deeper the peel, the more time and care that must be taken to recover. Always follow the instructions of your practitioner, usually given as a handout. Best practices advise that rinsing with cold water can help soothe but be careful not to pick. Use a gentle no-scent moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and use a natural broad-spectrum 30+sunscreen and stay out of direct sunlight.

Inflammation should ease as healing progresses in a few days. During this phase white blood cells such as neutrophils and monocytes will be the first on the scene to remove damaged tissue and guard against infection.

 

Post-Procedure: Day 3

After three days or so you can start to use red light therapy, which will accelerate your recovery and healing. Red light will boost new cell production and collagen, reduce inflammation and pain while releasing endorphins. It is rare, but if you have any reactions, discontinue immediately and let your skin calm down. Wait a day or two before resuming the red light. Consulting your practitioner may be useful at this point as well.

Start with sessions of five minutes four times a day and continue up to four times a day for a week to ten days. This will accelerate your healing as the red light will help to increase collagen production and repair any tissue to reduce any scar production. Swelling and inflammation will be reduced over time. 

 

Post-Procedure: 1-2 Weeks Later

The next phase of healing, after one or two weeks from any of the mentioned procedures, is to start using an infrared sauna on a regular basis. Start with sessions of 20 minutes once a day and continue at least four times a week for maximum healing benefits. Making daily infrared sauna sessions a part of your post-recovery and ongoing routine will literally change your life for the better. This will accelerate your healing as the red light will help increase collagen production and repair any tissue to reduce any scar production. Swelling and inflammation will be reduced over time. This phase of healing post procedure will support your tissue and skin, reducing scarring.

 

 

11 Benefits of Ongoing Infrared Sauna Use

 

Regular infrared sauna usage will increase your ability to heal and optimize your overall health. The infrared sauna heats deeply into your core while increasing your blood and lymph flow feeding and oxygenating your cells while waste and toxins are removed. Infrared saunas are a more comfortable alternative to the regular “box of rocks” steam sauna.

Infrared saunas work by heating the body instead of the air with infrared panels placed all around you in the sauna. Infrared panels are very effective at heating the body while the surrounding air will stay comfortable to breathe. Infrared saunas also take less time to heat up, use less energy and can be placed in any room and set-up within an hour or so, depending on the model. Many operate on 110-volt standard current and require no special wiring. 

General health benefits reported from using infrared saunas include:

• Immunity Boost
• Better Sleep
• Softer Skin
• Weight Loss
• Pain Reduction
• Increased Flexibility
• Reduced Inflammation
• Heart Health
• Detoxification
• Boost Metabolism
• Reduced Stress
  

Because we’re all unique humans, we react differently to heat. So, always pay attention to what your body is telling you before adding the sauna to your post-procedure recovery phase. As long as your body is not showing any adverse signs, it is perfectly safe to use your sauna on a daily basis. For best results, there are several studies that support the following on usage, which we here at Clearlight also recommend, which is that you can use your infrared at least four times a week for 20 minutes. You can even use it every day, as long as you’re hydrated and feeling good before, during and after you do a session.

We always recommend a discussion with your primary care physician before embarking on any new healing modality. Our infrared saunas are designed to be safe, but it is important that anyone using a sauna take a few steps to make sure their experience is comfortable and puts them in the best position to elevate their health.  It’s important to stay hydrated, consider any pre-existing conditions and talk to your physician before using the sauna, and stay in tune with your body.

There are many franchise shops and spas open now where you can use an infrared sauna with a membership or on an hourly basis. You might even consider purchasing an infrared sauna for your home to eliminate the commute and be closer to your shower.

 

Improving Healing with Heat and Light

 

Healing is happening constantly in our bodies. We can help this process by adding light, heat and wavelengths of infrared to accelerate that healing. Our bodies emit infrared wavelengths constantly, so sitting in an infrared sauna feels natural and comforting. Simple tools like these can help us recover faster so we can live our lives to the fullest.