Ep. 257 Red Light Therapy: What Actually Works (And What’s Just a Red Bulb)
Red light therapy is everywhere right now — from skincare devices to sauna rooms to $20 bulbs online.
But not all “red light” is created equal.
In this episode of Alpha Health and Wellness Radio, I’m breaking down the real science behind:
Red LED light
Near-infrared (NIR) light
Incandescent red heat bulbs
Because they are not the same thing — and they do very different things in the body.
If you’ve been wondering whether you need a panel, if a sauna bulb is enough, or which wavelengths actually matter for hormones, skin, recovery, or thyroid health — this episode will clear it up.
Red light (630–660 nm) Best for skin, collagen, acne, surface-level healing.
Near-infrared (810–880 nm) Penetrates deeper — ideal for joints, muscle recovery, brain health, thyroid, and systemic inflammation.
Incandescent red bulbs Primarily provide heat and circulation benefits — not precise mitochondrial stimulation.
If you’re going to invest, combining red + near-infrared wavelengths gives you both surface and deep tissue benefits.
Red light devices I like
Boncharge (panel and face mask, red light lamp/bulbs code drhalie)