Low level laser or light therapy (LLLT) is a fast growing technology that is being used to treat various dermatologic conditions as well as perform skin rejuvenation for problems such as acne scars, mild wrinkles, and other blemishes. LLLT works by stimulating tissue regeneration. It accelerates healing and relieves pain and inflammation, making it beneficial in the treatment of many medical conditions. Keep reading to learn more about low level laser LLLT and what it can do for you.
What is low level laser therapy LLLT?
A laser is a device that produces in intense beam of light. It is widely used in medicine to treat a range of conditions. Lasers are also commonly used during cosmetic treatments. Low level laser, as the name suggests, is a low-intensity laser treatment that emits a single wavelength of light from the laser pointer. This is a red or infrared wavelength.
The treatment is also called cold laser therapy because the low level laser light is not enough to heat the body tissues. This is in comparison to higher level lasers that generate enough heat to destroy tissues. Other names for LLLT include photobiomodulation, laser biostimulation, red light therapy, soft laser, and low power laser.
Any laser with an output of 0.5 watts or less is classified as LLLT or cold laser (class III laser) because it does not generate heat during treatment. Lasers with an output of more than 0.5 watts are called high power lasers because they create heat due to their higher intensity.
What does low level laser do?
Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is used in various branches of medicine, including dentistry, physical therapy, and aesthetic medicine. The underlying idea is to use the low level laser energy to repair tissues, accelerate healing, and provide relief from pain and inflammation.
Minor injuries
Cold laser is used in sports medicine clinics to treat minor injuries. Some of the conditions that can benefit from this type of light therapy are neck pain, low back pain, knee pain, bursitis, tendonitis, tennis elbow, muscle strains, and ligament sprains. The low level laser treatment helps to repair tissue damage and reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling.
Pain management
Pain clinics use low level laser treatment to provide relief from aches and pains caused by joint disorders and other conditions such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or carpal tunnel syndrome. Low level laser therapy LLLT is a potential alternative to acupuncture in patients who do not tolerate needles. The laser treatment stimulates the specific points of skin in the same way as acupuncture without piercing the skin.
Wound healing
Wound clinics sometimes use this type of laser treatment on difficult or slow-healing wounds, including diabetic wounds.
Dentistry
Low level lasers are used by dentists to encourage tissue healing in patients with conditions such as mouth ulceration and inflammation.
Aesthetic medicine
Last but not least, low level laser is used for skin rejuvenation. It can help with various types of dermatologic conditions, including acne scars, hypertrophic or keloid scars, pigmentation, rash, dermatitis, burns, vitiligo, psoriasis, and herpes virus lesions.
New applications
Because of the ability of low level laser light to stimulate cell proliferation and reduce cell death, researchers are studying this treatment for many new applications such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
How does LLLT work?
LLLT is a non-invasive treatment that works at the cell level. A low level laser does not generate heat or vibrations. However, the laser light is believed to cause fibroblast cell proliferation, i.e., it stimulates cells called fibroblasts in the connective tissue which are responsible for repair of tissue damage. The lasers are also believed to stimulate cell proliferation of other types of cells such as keratinocytes, lymphocytes, and endothelial cells. Stem cells are activated by low level light therapy, allowing enhanced tissue repair and reduced cell death. The light photons are absorbed by the skin cells, leading to the release of nitric oxide and an increase in blood flow. It is through these effects that low level lasers reduce inflammation and pain and lead to more rapid tissue repair.
Is low-level laser effective?
Studies have found that low level laser light (LLLT) is moderately effective in reducing pain in people with musculoskeletal disorders. The dose range that is used has an effect on the results.
When used for skin rejuvenation, low level laser is effective. However, it takes a considerable amount of time for the results to be noticeable. Each treatment session with low level laser only lasts a few minutes, but it usually takes several treatments a week for a month or more for the effects to be visible.
Is LLLT safe?
Low level laser light is FDA approved in the United States as well as many other countries worldwide for a number of conditions that require tissue regeneration. It is considered safe when performed by a qualified practitioner. LLLT treatments are painless and noninvasive. They do not require any special preparation or pre-medication. This means most people can undergo this treatment with very few side effects.
While most people can undergo low level laser treatment safely, these types of lasers should not be used on certain parts of the body such as the eyes or the thyroid gland in the neck. They are also not recommended for use in cancer patients because their effect on cancerous lesions is not well understood. LLLT treatments should be avoided by pregnant women since it is not known what effects the laser can have on the unborn baby. Low level laser may also be inappropriate in people with epilepsy because the low-frequency wavelength of light used can trigger seizures in such individuals.
Can low level lasers be used at home?
Some cold laser devices that use LLLT are available for home use. However, it is worth noting that many of these devices make unsubstantiated claims about what they can achieve. In fact, many of them are not even lasers but simply light emitting diodes or LEDs. Also, lasers are powerful devices that can cause serious complications and permanent damage if used inappropriately. When you undergo low level laser treatments in a doctor's office, you are assured of safety precautions. For example, the doctor may use safety spectacles to protect your eyes which can be damaged by laser irradiation. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you avoid using at-home lasers. The results are often less than optimum and the risks are simply not worth it.
Is low level laser treatment right for me?
Research is still ongoing about the effectiveness of LLLT. There are no standard treatment protocols or solid scientific evidence to support that these treatments actually work. Nonetheless, treatment with a low level laser can benefit some people. It is a good alternative for those who are hesitant to try more invasive laser treatment for aesthetic reasons. If you are interested in low level laser, talk to a qualified aesthetic provider about your goals. They will help you decide if this treatment makes sense for you.
Is low-level laser covered by insurance?
When it is used for cosmetic skin rejuvenation, low level laser LLLT is unlikely to be covered by your health insurance policy.
Finding a provider for low level laser treatments
Low level laser has a wide range of applications in dermatology, including aesthetic rejuvenation. If you are interested in finding out what LLLT can do for you, it is important to choose a qualified provider who has experience in laser treatments. The MeTime app makes it easy to find experienced providers for laser irradiation in your area. You can click and upload pictures and have suggestions sent directly to you. Find out more about low level laser treatment. Try the MeTime app now!
