← The Peter Attia Drive

#326 - AMA #65: Red light therapy: promising applications, mixed evidence, and impact on health and aging

Nov 18, 2024 15m 4s 7 insights
<p><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/ama65/?utm_source=podcast-feed&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=241018-pod-ama65&amp;utm_content=241018-pod-ama65-podfeed"> View the Show Notes Page for This Episode</a></p> <p><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/?utm_source=podcast-feed&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=241018-pod-ama65&amp;utm_content=241018-pod-ama65-podfeed"> Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content</a></p> <p><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/?utm_source=podcast-feed&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=241018-pod-ama65&amp;utm_content=241018-pod-ama65-podfeed"> Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter</a></p> <p>In this "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) episode, Peter dives into the world of red light therapy in response to frequent questions from listeners. Peter provides a comprehensive exploration, starting with the basics of red light therapy and why it's getting so much attention. The conversation examines the latest data on various applications, including aging, skin health, acne, wound healing, hair loss, eye health, exercise performance, metabolic health, weight loss, inflammation, injury recovery, and menstrual cramps. Peter analyzes the scientific literature on each use case and concludes with a summary table that provides an easy-to-follow breakdown of the potential benefits of red light therapy across these areas.</p> <p>If you're not a subscriber and are listening on a podcast player, you'll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you're a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/members/private-podcast-feed/?utm_source=podcast-feed&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=241018-pod-ama65&amp;utm_content=241018-pod-ama65-podfeed">private RSS feed </a>or our website at the <a href="http://peterattiamd.com/ama65/?utm_source=podcast-feed&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=241018-pod-ama65&amp;utm_content=241018-pod-ama65-podfeed">AMA #65 show notes page</a>. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/?utm_source=podcast-feed&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=241018-pod-ama65&amp;utm_content=241018-pod-ama65-podfeed">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>We discuss:</strong></p> <ul type="disc"> <li>Overview of topics and the motivation behind exploring red light therapy [1:45];</li> <li>The basic science of red light therapy [3:15];</li> <li>The unique penetration properties of red light [6:00];</li> <li>What happens when tissue is exposed to red light [9:30];</li> <li>Exploring red light therapy's potential to combat aging [11:00];</li> <li>Red light therapy for treating acne [13:00];</li> <li>Red light therapy for aiding in wound healing [18:45];</li> <li>Red light therapy for hair loss: promising benefits and practical advice [24:15];</li> <li>Analyzing the evidence of a positive or negative effect of red light therapy on the eyes [28:00];</li> <li>Red light therapy's impact on performance and recovery [30:30];</li> <li>Red light therapy's impact on metabolic health: analyzing the limited evidence for improved glucose metabolism [32:45];</li> <li>Red light therapy for weight loss and targeted fat reduction [36:45];</li> <li>Red light therapy for inflammation, chronic pain, and injury rehabilitation [41:00];</li> <li>Red light therapy as a treatment for menstrual cramps [43:45];</li> <li>Summary: promising applications of red light therapy, unsupported claims, and costs to consider [46:45]; and</li> <li>More.</li> </ul> <p>Connect With Peter on <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peterattiamd/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/peterattiamd/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8kGsMa0LygSX9nkBcBH1Sg">YouTube</a></p>
Actionable Insights

1. Seek Professional Medical Advice

Remember that the podcast content is for general informational purposes only and not medical advice; always seek assistance from healthcare professionals for any medical conditions and do not delay in obtaining professional medical advice.

2. Research Before Buying Red Light

Peter Atiyah advised his wife to hold off on buying red light therapy devices until research was conducted to determine their value and specific applications, suggesting a general principle of researching health interventions before purchasing.

3. Evaluate Red Light Therapy Claims

When considering red light therapy applications, remember that the more superficial the application (e.g., skin surface), the more plausible the claims of its effectiveness are likely to be, due to limited penetration depth.

4. Access Premium Membership Benefits

Become a premium member to access comprehensive podcast show notes, monthly AMA episodes, a detailed premium newsletter, a private ad-free podcast feed, and ’the qualies’ (a highlight reel podcast) by visiting peteratiyahmd.com/subscribe.

5. Review Disclosures

To review Peter Atiyah’s conflicts of interest, including companies he invests in or advises, visit peteratiamd.com/about for an up-to-date list of all disclosures.

6. Follow Peter Atiyah Online

You can find Peter Atiyah on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter by searching for the handle ‘peteratiamd’ to access more content and updates.

7. Leave a Podcast Review

Support the podcast by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast player.