How Does the Luminance RED Work?
HOW IT WORKS OVERVIEW
- How does it work?
- Video Summary
- High School Level Explanation
- College Level Explanation
- PhD Level Explanation
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The clinical data is conclusive in showing that when specific wavelengths of light is applied properly it:
1) Speeds up healing
2) Immediately reduces pain
3) Reduces the frequency of future outbreaks
So how does it actually work? The explanation can range from simple to complex.
For this reason, we've decided to give explanations at the following 3 levels of complexity:
• High School Level
• College Level
• Biology PhD Level
NEED A QUICK OVERVIEW OF
HOW THE SCIENCE WORKS?
Short on time? Watch this short video that will walk you through 3 explanations of how it works.
HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL EXPLANATION
When red light hits your skin, your body utilizes, or ‘metabolizes’ the light’s energy and then uses it however it chooses. The process is similar to how plants metabolize the sun's energy through a process called photosynthesis.
Once the skin has access to this new energy, it can use it to heal more quickly and strengthen its defenses against future viral attacks.
COLLEGE LEVEL EXPLANATION
The key player in our body’s metabolism of red light is the mitochondria.
The metabolic process is usually limited by a molecule called nitric oxide, which binds to cytochrome oxidase and prevents it from utilizing available oxygen. The red light acts by breaking off this nitric oxide molecule, allowing cytochrome to engage in its metabolic function of producing energy.
This process results in an enhancement of oxygen utilization, and ultimately in generating more ATP (Adenosine triphosphate), which is the energy currency in the body.
Red light has been shown to positively affect skin cells through regeneration of fibroblasts, keratinocytes and the modulation of immune cells (including mast cells, neutrophils and macrophages) which allows for shorter wound repair time.
It also stimulates the body’s natural production of collagen.
PhD LEVEL EXPLANATION
To explain the biological process at this level, we will review and expert from the following paper:
Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring
Authors: Pinar Avci, MD, Asheesh Gupta, PhD, Magesh Sadasivam, MTech, Daniela, Vecchio, PhD, Zeev Pam, MD, Nadav Pam, MD, and Michael R Hamblin, PhD
Link to Paper: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PM
The mechanism associated with the cellular photobiostimulation by LLLT is not yet fully understood. From observation, it appears that LLLT has a wide range of effects at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels.
The basic biological mechanism behind the effects of LLLT is thought to be through absorption of red and NIR light by mitochondrial chromophores, in particular cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) which is contained in the respiratory chain located within the mitochondria, and perhaps also by photoacceptors in the plasma membrane of cells.
Consequently, a cascade of events occur in the mitochondria, leading to biostimulation of various processes Absorption spectra obtained for CCO in different oxidation states were recorded and found to be very similar to the action spectra for biological responses to the light.
It is hypothesized that this absorption of light energy may cause photodissociation of inhibitory nitric oxide from CCO leading to enhancement of enzyme activity, electron transport, mitochondrial respiration and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production.
In turn, LLLT alters the cellular redox state which induces the activation of numerous intracellular signaling pathways, and alters the affinity of transcription factors concerned with cell proliferation, survival, tissue repair and regeneration.
We designed the Luminance RED to enable you to bring this new treatment into your home in a convenient and cost-effective way.