The History Of LED Light Therapy
Phototherapy—when light is used to treat various conditions—is believed to have originated when ancient Egyptians used sunlight in conjunction with medicinal plants to treat vitiligo.
3,500 Years Ago
The FDA issued guidance on photobiomodulation for industry to ensure companies comply with regulatory laws.
2023
A Danish physician used artificial light sources to treat skin tuberculosis, earning him the Nobel Prize. He also discovered that red light could be used to prevent scarring.
Late 19th Century/Early 20th Century
A General Electric engineer succeeded in creating the first visible LED device, which emitted red light.
1962
1967
1993
A team of Japanese scientists created the first efficient blue LEDs. In the same year, NASA discovered the wound-healing properties of red light while conducting experiments on plant growth.
The United States Navy SEALs began using LED light therapy to aid in muscle recovery and wound healing. Around the same time, professional sports teams began using LED light therapy to help treat player injuries.
Late 1990s/Early 2000s
Early 2000s
The development of personal devices like the red light therapy mat became
possible due to improved technology
and the growing body of research into
the therapeutic benefits of red and
near-infrared light.
2008—2016
LED face masks began a years long period of flooding the consumer market. Around 2018, CurrentBody released its first red light mask.
Late 2010s/Early 2020s
While wearable LED light therapy has all but become a mainstay in our culture—its immense popularity due in part to numerous celebrity endorsements and the power of social media—this “modern” innovation actually traces back thousands of years. Here are some key moments in the evolution of red light technology that have set the stage for its multifaceted uses today.
A study was published in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery in 2008 showing how red light affects the mitochondria in cells, and how at specific wavelengths it can stimulate a variety of cellular responses. Over the next few years, multiple studies indicated that red light therapy can improve sleep, cognitive function and inflammation.
While attempting to research cancerous tumors in mice, a physician and surgeon from Hungary discovered—by accident—that a low-power ruby laser could stimulate hair regrowth.