Take a look at the technological developments in the fields of wellness and healthcare over the past decade. With the advancements of groundbreaking therapies and treatments, you would be forgiven for struggling to keep track.
As we continue to search for the magic elixir, individuals continue to focus on non-invasive, holistic techniques to optimize aspects of physical health and mental wellness. Among the many futuristic-looking choices, two continue to be widely adopted as ground-breaking treatment options. There are cryotherapy and red light therapy (RLT), also known as photobiomodulation (PBM).
Both treatments offer a rich history dating back to the 19th century. Even with this, they continue to be used and adapted as we enhance our understanding of how they work. Individually, both therapies have shown promising applications for skin health, discomfort, and cognitive function.
Recently, the potential synergistic effects of combining both treatments have started to gain traction. Because of this, we’ve taken the bull by the horns and done a deep dive into the possible benefits and situations in which both may be used.
So, is red light cryotherapy a thing? Let’s find out!
Understanding Cryotherapy and Red Light Therapy
What is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy, more commonly known as cold therapy, is a broad term used to describe a group of treatments that apply freezing or near-freezing temperatures to the body. This may involve minor treatment like applying an ice pack on a sore muscle or joint or removing abnormal tissue such as warts or skin tags.
In most cases, cryotherapy refers to using full-body cryotherapy chambers that can reach temperatures below -200°F to -300°F. These are futuristic-looking devices often found in training centers and health spas.
The general idea behind cryotherapy is that exposing the body to these extremely cold temperatures can help with muscle soreness, general discomfort, and soft tissue injuries. When applied to the body, the cold causes vasoconstriction meaning it narrows the blood vessels. This decreased blood flow and general activity around the target area is thought to reduce discomfort and associated symptoms such as redness and swelling.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to stimulate increased mitochondrial activity. Once exposed, our cells absorb the light which stimulates the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), also known as our cell's energy currency.
This increased energy production enhances cell function, activating our body's natural healing processes to decrease inflammation and improve healing times. The main mechanism behind this is a temporary increase in blood circulation and lymphatic fluid.
Several administration methods exist, including light beds, panels, and portable handheld devices. These methods determine the light concentration and target area focus.
Studies examining the administration of red light therapy and the resulting beneficial effects have shown promising results. Proposed benefits include reduced inflammation, faster recovery, increased hair growth, and better skin. Some of these will be discussed in more detail below.
Key Differences Between Cryotherapy and Red Light Therapy
Both therapies are marketed as recovery and rehabilitation methods that harness the power of amazing science and technology. However, the way they work couldn’t be more different.
Mechanisms
Red light therapy uses lasers that penetrate the skin at different levels depending on the wavelengths used. The heat provided stimulates increased cellular activity in and around the cells, improving blood flow or causing vasodilation of the blood vessels.
Doing this for sustained periods promotes the body’s natural healing processes which leads to faster recovery and rehabilitation.
Cryotherapy administers freezing or near-freezing temperatures to the body through ice, cold water, or cold air. This is thought to stimulate the body's sympathetic nervous system into a ‘fight or flight’ response.
Exposing the skin and muscle to cold temperatures causes the blood vessels to constrict, decreasing blood flow and reducing discomfort. With this cryotherapy is thought to promote better recovery and healing without acting at a cellular level.
With this, the mechanisms behind both treatments work in totally different and often opposite ways.
Risks
When looking at cryotherapy vs red light therapy in terms of risks, both are marketed as safe rehabilitation and recovery therapies. While both offer fairly non-invasive treatment options, the safety profile and potential risks differ.
Red light therapy is generally considered low-risk with an excellent safety profile. Research examining its beneficial effects has largely declared it a safe treatment option with minimal side effects.
However, prolonged exposure or administration outside of the treatment guidelines may cause minor side effects. This includes burns, blisters, and eye damage when suitable eye protection isn’t used or the red light is applied at incorrect distances or prolonged durations. Because of this, care needs to be taken when using the devices or technology.
Cryotherapy is also considered a low-risk process but tends to have more potential side effects and considerations to think about. The most commonly reported skin injury in the case of whole-body cryotherapy is frostbite which may cause numbness and tingling. This occurs when your skin freezes which may lead to permanent tissue damage.
Rarely reported risks include:
- Discomfort and dizziness
- High blood pressure
- Headaches
- Long-lasting shivering
- Sudden and temporary memory loss.
In very rare cases, cryotherapy may cause hypoxia or gas asphyxiation. Patients need to be screened for potential contradictions before undergoing treatment. These include cardiovascular disease risk factors, pregnancy, and open injuries.
While both treatments present side effects, cryotherapy requires more consideration. Part of this involves a risk assessment that looks at any underlying conditions that may interact with the treatment.
Treatment Duration and Frequency
Generally speaking, red light therapy should be administered during a series of sessions over a certain period. The expected treatment time varies depending on the condition. Immediate results may be felt in the case of inflammation and discomfort while improvements in skin health and mood may take weeks to months of consistent use.
A single treatment session tends to range from 10–20 minutes. This will be specified in the manufacturer's instructions or stated by a qualified healthcare professional. Multiple daily treatment sessions can also be performed
Currently, there is no evidence to suggest risks of prolonged daily use. Therefore, you may use it as needed while exercising caution and following the guidance of the manufacturer.
Cryotherapy exposes your skin to intense cold. Therefore, treatment sessions tend to last for two to three minutes. This depends on the extent of your issue and your experience level with different types of cryotherapy. Because of the cold exposure, a longer recovery time may be needed between sessions.
The correct session frequency tends to vary between manufacturers. While 2–3 seems to be the generally suggested weekly amount, listen to the specific manufacturer or qualified healthcare professionals.
Applications
Both treatment methods share several purported benefits while using different mechanisms. These include benefits for inflammation and recovery, skin health and aging, wound healing, and aspects of mental functioning.
However, differences in the specific applications and the quality of the proven research surrounding them should be the main focus point. We discuss this further in the next section.
Is red light therapy or cryotherapy better?
Now that we’ve discussed the background and key differences between both treatments, is cryotherapy or red light therapy better?
Well, there is no definite answer when answering this from a board perspective. The use of each treatment should be based on the quality of research and reports surrounding the specific applications.
In this section, we’ve looked at the state of the research regarding both treatments to give you the three main benefits so you can see where they would be most helpful.
Benefits of cryotherapy
Enhanced Cognitive Function
Cognitive function refers to our ability to think, behave, and remember things. It comprises multiple mental abilities including thinking, memory, problem-solving, attention, and decision-making.
A 2018 study examining the effect of whole-body cryotherapy on mild cognitive impairment and related blood parameters found promising results. Improvements in aspects of memory after 10 sessions coincided with an increase in nitric oxide plasma levels while reducing the concentration of interleukin-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine.
A more recent 2021 study took these results one step further by using a randomized controlled trial. Researchers found positive effects of aspects of recall and orientation following whole-body cryotherapy. In their conclusions, they stated that whole-body cryotherapy could have potential beneficial applications when combined with existing cognitive therapies.
Improved Mood
Depression represents a huge global health issue, with over 300 million people diagnosed with a form of depression in 2024. Therefore, finding therapeutic interventions that may help to combat or treat the presenting symptoms should be a huge public health interest.
The results of a 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis suggested preliminary evidence for whole-body cryotherapy as an add-on treatment to other interventions. However, it did note that further large-scale studies are needed before definite conclusions can be made.
Better Skin Health
Targeted cryotherapy offers an effective method to kill abnormal tissue including warts, skin tags, verrucas, and seborrheic keratosis. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the skin to kill the diseased tissue before it falls off.
While doctors may recommend cryotherapy for the removal of some forms of cancer, it’s not yet clear how effective this is over the long term.
Benefits of red light therapy
Reduced Pain and Recovery Time
Inflammation is one of the main drivers of discomfort and reduced mobility. Increasing blood flow and stimulating cellular function with red light therapy may reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines while increasing the production of anti-inflammatory ones.
This change in cytokine balance can reduce inflammation and discomfort. This may be beneficial for mobility, physical performance, and quality of life.
Improved Skin Health and Hair Growth
Collagen is an important protein that helps to maintain the function and texture of our skin and cartilage. The light energy provided by red light therapy can stimulate fibroblast cells to produce more collagen. This is a type of cell that contributes to the formation of connective tissue.
By increasing collagen production, red light therapy may help to improve multiple aspects of skin health. This includes skin texture and tone, wound healing, and joint pain.
Furthermore, red light therapy can promote hair growth by increasing blood flow and stimulating hair follicle activity. Because of this, it’s becoming an increasingly common treatment option for those struggling with hair loss and hair thinning.
Better Cognitive Function
Red light therapy may also have exciting beneficial effects on aspects of brain health, including traumatic brain injuries, stroke, and age-related cognitive decline. Using red and near-infrared can penetrate through the dermis and into the tissue which when applied to the scalp could be the brain.
The efficacy of specific application methods continues to be debated as research develops. Recent studies have shown possible neuroprotective effects in the case of Alzheimer's disease and improvements in symptoms caused by depression and traumatic brain injuries.
However, it’s important to note that future studies are still needed to examine the effects of red light therapy on cognitive function before any definitive conclusions can be drawn. The mechanisms seem to be there but the actual effect on brain health is still being debated.
When to use red light therapy and cryotherapy together.
The mechanisms behind both therapies couldn't be further apart — Red light therapy uses warming light rays while cryotherapy uses extreme cold temperatures as a full-body or targeted treatment. However, they may have synergistic effects when paired together.
Both methods aim to enhance general health and wellness but do so via different mechanisms. Cryotherapy tends to deal with the bigger picture while red light therapy focuses on the smaller details. With this, what are the potential benefits of combining cryotherapy and red light therapy together?
Both methods have proven research showing beneficial effects on cognitive function and aspects of mental health when correctly applied. Therefore, this seems to be the main focus area when considering any additive benefits.
Alongside this, both methods show beneficial effects on skin health. The main applications of cryotherapy seem to be in using targeted cryotherapy for the removal of diseased tissue including warts and skin tags. Red light therapy is thought to improve skin health and appearance by stimulating increased collagen production. This is another key focus area where the beneficial effects may be combined.
So, should you do red light therapy or cryotherapy first? The suggested order is to red light therapy first followed by whole-body cryotherapy. The idea behind this is to allow the light to be absorbed by the body so the warmth is stored in the body. Following this, the following cryotherapy sessions may be more comfortable.
Doing red light therapy after cryotherapy may also be an option. However, we just don’t have enough research at this point to know yet.
While this offers an exciting area of new research, more is needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn. The applications of both methods are clear but the combined effects require more time to be determined as science continues to evolve. However, it seems to be a promising area that we’ll most likely be revisiting in the near future!
Common Questions About Cryotherapy and Red Light Therapy
Is cryotherapy painful?
There may be slight discomfort during the freezing process. However, this tends to be mild and well tolerated in most cases. The extent of this can depend on the type of cryotherapy administered and the duration of the treatment.
The air used in whole-body cryotherapy contains no moisture which means you should feel chilly but not uncomfortably cold during the procedure.
How does red light therapy work?
Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light that penetrate the skin at different depths to stimulate increased activity in and around the cell. This enhances the cell's function and promotes the body's natural healing mechanisms. These include enhanced blood flow and reduced inflammation.
Are there any side effects of cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is regarded as a minimally invasive treatment option with a good safety profile. However, it does have potential side effects that need to be considered when using it.
Potential ones include discomfort and dizziness, numbness and tingling, frostbite, headaches, and long-lasting shivering.
How often should I use red light therapy?
Generally speaking, red light therapy has been used frequently without any noticeable side effects. It’s considered safe to use every day or multiple times a week depending on the type of treatment needed.
The exact treatment time and frequency can also vary depending on the manufacturer's instructions. Always listen to a qualified healthcare professional if being prescribed red light therapy as part of your treatment routine.
Can you do cryotherapy and red light therapy on the same day?
When used together, cryotherapy and red light therapy may provide synergistic effects that enhance the beneficial applications. Specific timings and treatment orders may depend on the conditions being treated and the frequency of treatment.
Specific guidelines regarding the combined treatment times, frequencies, and order are still being formulated as research develops.
For more articles on cold therapy and red light therapy, read:
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