Another month, another stack of new red light therapy research, devices, interviews, and interesting discussions from the world of photobiomodulation. June brought a surprisingly wide mix of topics — from cardiovascular aging studies and thyroid health to oral light therapy devices and the ongoing debate around sunburn recovery.
There’s also been a big focus lately on brain health and cognitive function. Between interviews with experts like Dr. Lew Lim and new discussions around near-infrared therapy for the head, it’s clear that brain photobiomodulation continues to gain momentum. At the same time, researchers are still exploring how red light therapy may influence metabolism, inflammation, circulation, and even longevity.
Here’s a breakdown of the biggest updates from this month.
A New Oral Red Light Therapy Device
One of the more unusual products this month was an oral light therapy device from Hooga. It’s specifically designed for the mouth and lip area, which immediately makes it stand out from the endless stream of standard LED masks and panels.
The device contains 36 LEDs in total, including lights positioned both around the lips and inside the mouth tray itself. It uses three wavelengths — 415nm blue light, 660nm red light, and 850nm near infrared — with different treatment modes focused on lip rejuvenation, gum health, oral hygiene, and teeth whitening.
The whitening claims are probably the part I’m most skeptical about. Blue light does have some applications for oral health, but the evidence around meaningful whitening effects from a device like this is still unclear. The gum health side of things makes more sense, especially when you combine blue light with red and near infrared wavelengths that may help circulation and tissue health.
What I actually like most about the concept is the internal mouth application. If you already use a full-sized panel or LED mask, the external lip treatment probably isn’t adding much. But the ability to deliver light inside the mouth is more unique and potentially useful.
It’s portable, relatively affordable, and honestly just an interesting direction for the industry.
New Articles:
Brain Health & The Vielight Interview
One of the most interesting conversations this month was an interview with Dr. Lew Lim from Vielight. If you’ve followed brain photobiomodulation research at all, you’ve almost certainly come across Vielight devices before.
Their focus has always been neurological and cognitive applications rather than general wellness or skincare. The company develops transcranial light therapy devices aimed at supporting brain function, cognition, and neurological health.
Dr. Lim has been involved in this space for years and is one of the more knowledgeable people in the industry when it comes to brain-focused photobiomodulation. During the interview we discussed how these devices work, why near infrared light is used for the brain, and what current research is actually showing.
Alongside the interview, we also published a deeper article examining the Vielight Neuro headset itself — including how it works, the proposed mechanisms, and what kinds of benefits users are hoping to achieve.
Brain photobiomodulation remains one of the more exciting areas of red light therapy research, although it’s also one where people need to separate genuine science from exaggerated claims. There’s promising data emerging, but there’s still a lot we don’t fully understand.
Red Light Therapy and Cognitive Health
Another article this month looked at red light therapy for cognitive health, which is becoming one of the more exciting areas of photobiomodulation research. Most people still think of red light therapy for skin, recovery, pain, or general wellness, but there is growing interest in how near infrared light may support the brain.
The idea is that certain wavelengths of near infrared light may be able to penetrate through the skull and influence brain cells, blood flow, inflammation, and mitochondrial function. That matters because the brain is extremely energy-demanding, and anything that supports cellular energy production may have a role in cognitive performance, focus, memory, and long-term brain health.
This does not mean red light therapy is a magic fix for brain conditions, and it is definitely not something to oversell. But the research in this area is very interesting, especially when you look at devices designed specifically for the head and brain. For anyone interested in cognitive health, brain aging, or neurological support, this is one of the most important areas to keep an eye on.
Red Light Therapy for Thyroid Health
Another article this month explored red light therapy and thyroid function, particularly in relation to hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease.
This is actually one of the more promising emerging applications for photobiomodulation. Several studies over the years have suggested that red light therapy may help support thyroid function and potentially reduce reliance on thyroid medication in some individuals.
The mechanisms are still being explored, but the theories largely center around improved mitochondrial function, circulation, reduced inflammation, and cellular repair within thyroid tissue.
Of course, this doesn’t mean people should suddenly abandon conventional treatment or assume red light therapy is some miracle cure. But it’s an area of research that continues to produce genuinely interesting findings.
Given how common thyroid dysfunction is — especially among women — it’s a topic that deserves more attention.
Can Red Light Therapy Help Burn Fat?
We also covered a newer study looking at red light therapy and resting metabolic rate.
Fat loss is one of the most overhyped areas in the industry, so I always approach these discussions cautiously. There are plenty of exaggerated claims online about “melting fat” or dramatic body transformations from simply sitting in front of a panel.
That said, there does appear to be some legitimate research showing possible metabolic effects from photobiomodulation.
This newer study suggested a link between red light therapy and increased resting metabolic rate, which is interesting because it points toward systemic metabolic changes rather than simply cosmetic effects.
Whether those changes are large enough to meaningfully impact long-term fat loss in humans is still another question entirely. But it’s definitely an area worth watching as more research emerges.
The Longevity & Cardiovascular Aging Study
The biggest science discussion this month centered around a 2023 study titled:
“Photobiomodulation therapy mitigates cardiovascular aging and improves survival.”
What immediately caught my attention was the device used in the study: the PlatinumLED BIO series panel. That’s actually PlatinumLED’s more budget-oriented line rather than their flagship BioMax range, which is commonly discussed online.
Researchers used only near-infrared light, with a carefully controlled setup and spectrometer measurements to standardize treatment intensity. The mice received treatments five days per week over five months, which is a substantial portion of a mouse’s lifespan.
The study examined both normal mice and genetically modified mice with impaired cardiovascular function. Researchers found improvements in cardiovascular health markers, neuromuscular coordination, and overall longevity.
One particularly interesting aspect was that some benefits appeared to persist even after treatment stopped. That aligns with a theory often discussed in photobiomodulation — that cumulative full-body treatments may produce longer-lasting adaptive effects over time.
Of course, translating mouse studies into human outcomes is never straightforward. Human longevity trials lasting decades simply aren’t realistic. But studies like this still help build a broader picture of what may be happening biologically with long-term light exposure.
Is Red Light Therapy Safe After Sunburn?
This month’s community question was whether it’s safe to use red light therapy after sunburn.
My answer is generally yes — cautiously and at lower intensities.
There isn’t a huge amount of direct human research specifically studying sunburn recovery with red light therapy. Part of the problem is that intentionally giving study participants sunburn isn’t exactly ideal from an ethical standpoint.
However, there’s already extensive research showing that photobiomodulation can help with inflammation, wound healing, tissue repair, and skin recovery. Because of that, many people reasonably assume it may also help reduce discomfort and recovery time following sun exposure.
Personally, I’ve noticed that short, lower-intensity sessions after mild sunburn often seem to reduce tenderness and irritation by the next morning. Living in New Zealand, spending years outdoors, and admittedly being pretty careless with sunscreen at times has given me plenty of opportunities to test that firsthand.
There’s also another theory gaining attention: using red light therapy before sun exposure as a way to potentially “precondition” the skin. That’s still an emerging concept and not something I’d make strong claims about yet, but it’s definitely interesting.
What’s Coming Next
There’s a lot of new content currently in the pipeline.
Upcoming topics include:
- Sunlight vs Red Light therapy
- Which LED mask is actually worth buying
- A review of a newly launched LED mask
- Near infrared vs red light comparisons
- More epilepsy and photobiomodulation discussions
- Device certifications and marketing claims
- The best devices for cellulite treatments
There’s also plenty of additional content going out through the newsletter that never makes it onto YouTube or the website, so it’s worth joining if you want the latest updates and research discussions.
June ended up being a surprisingly packed month for photobiomodulation news, and the research continues moving into some genuinely fascinating territory.
Items or Resources Mentioned
⭐ Hooga, please use the following link: https://aferg.co/hooga-rlt. 10% discount auto-applied at checkout.
⭐ BonCharge toothbrush: Use discount code ALEX at www.boncharge.com to get 15% off
⭐ PlatinumLED Therapy Lights: Use the discount link https://aferg.co/redled to save 5%
🔬Vielight Red Light For The Brain Science - Interview with Dr Lew Lim
🔬Vielight Neuro Alpha, Gamma & More: IMPRESSIVE Products!:
🔬RLT for Cognitive Performance
🔬Best RLT for Thyroid Health
🔬 How RLT Burns Body Fat
🔬 PBM Cardiovascular Aging: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10084725/
🔬 The 3 Red Light Therapy Mechanisms You Should Know About
Alex's Bio
Alex Fergus wrote this blog post. Alex is an ISSN Sports Nutrition Specialist, Fitness Professional, and certified Superhuman Coach who continues to expand his knowledge base and help people worldwide with their health and wellness. Alex is recognized as the National Record Holder in Powerlifting and Indoor Rowing and has earned the title of the Australian National Natural Bodybuilding Champion. Having worked as a health coach and personal trainer for over a decade, Alex now researches all things health and wellness and shares his findings on this blog.
