The (un)suspected power of light…

By Doctor François Michel, dermatologist expert in laser therapy.

Many cultures, much older than ours, believed in the beneficial effects of light on human beings… but it still remained to be proven.

Today, it's a done deal! From the very first observations to the most decisive discoveries, the virtues of light have been revealed and demonstrated. And today, "photobiomodulation" (the action of LEDs on living cells) further confirms its regenerative and soothing power. But how did we arrive at this technology, and on what scientific foundations? It's quite a story...

Originally: The Rite of the Sun

Western civilization was born in Egypt and Greece, sun-drenched lands where light was considered a true source of blessings, provided it was used wisely...

Texts from the medical literature of other great civilizations, such as India or China, also attest to a therapeutic use of natural sunlight.

But due to the lack of sufficient medical and scientific knowledge at the time, this idea that a light source could exert an influence on health was never supported by concrete evidence...

The golden age of infrared

In the 19th century, it was thanks to the mastery of electricity that scientists discovered the power of light.

Thus the first infrared lamps were born and equipped with devices with analgesic and healing effects. Innovative, they emit certain colors visible to the eye, such as yellow and red, as well as invisible near infrared but do not emit heat, or very little. The observation is astonishing but unequivocal: we can treat and relieve without heating...

At the time, at least 30 million people benefited from the benefits of these lamps and scientific studies supported the results: their effectiveness and safety were proven.

In the 20th century, everything accelerated!

Great physicists and eminent physicians, including Einstein and Finsen, both Nobel Prize winners, would make discoveries about light of essential importance. But it was in 1995 that Tina Karu, a member of the Moscow Academy of Sciences, provided proof of the antioxidant properties of light. By observing mitochondria, these intracellular organelles that detoxify oxygen, she noted that their receptors react differently depending on the color of the light.

Through her research, the biologist paved the way for photobiomodulation. A few years later, the development of LEDs, these small diodes that diffuse colors without emitting heat, offered the possibility of taking full advantage of the effects of light on living cells.

Supported by NASA, photobiomodulation has made it possible to explore the impacts of light on the body and its modes of action… and there are many! Not only does it have antioxidant properties, but it also acts on intracellular water, the movement of ions and the structure of certain proteins…

In the 21st century: the peak of photobiomodulation?

To fully understand the principle, let's just remember this: it is the combination of the type of wavelength and the energy production that guarantees the effectiveness of an LED light session. More precisely: each wavelength triggers a specific mechanism, and the amount of energy will be chosen according to the target to be treated.

Reading this, you might think that photobiomodulation requires ultra sophisticated technology and you would be right! This is absolutely true when the objective is very precise, for example for the treatment of fine lines or scars… But let’s also keep in mind that photobiomodulation works continuously as long as we are not in the dark!

Thus Professor Barolet has demonstrated that morning light is particularly rich in restorative and protective colors. So, day after day, let's take advantage of this natural light source, walk outdoors, capture its energy: a great way to remind ourselves that photobiomodulation does not only live in laboratories and technological tools but that it is also an integral part of our lives!