How to Effectively Use Red Light Therapy for Migraines?

Red light therapy is known for promoting skin health, reducing inflammation, and enhancing muscle recovery, but can it help with migraines?

With over a billion people worldwide affected by migraines each year, especially young adults and women, these painful, recurring headaches are both prevalent and disruptive.

Thankfully, red light therapy offers a promising solution. In this guide, discover how to use red light therapy effectively to ease migraines and improve your quality of life.

 University of California Davis  Health experts clarify that migraines are not just headaches but a complex neurological syndrome that affects around 15% of Americans, three times more common in women. The condition arises from nerve-driven inflammation of the dura, the protective layer between the brain and the skull, which leads to throbbing pain, often on one side of the head.

Several primary causes contribute to migraines:

• Hormonal fluctuations : Especially around menstruation due to dropping estrogen levels.
  
  

• Genetic predisposition : Family history may increase susceptibility.
  
  

• Environmental triggers : Cold weather fronts and changes in barometric pressure.
  
  

• Lifestyle factors : Stress, alcohol consumption, and lack of sleep can prompt attacks.
  
  

• Dietary habits : Certain foods or skipped meals may also be associated.
  
  

Migraine symptoms can be debilitating, ranging from nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, to visual disturbances and even speech difficulties. 

These episodes can disrupt work, relationships, and daily function. While medication such as triptans and NSAIDs may offer relief, lifestyle-focused strategies like consistent sleep, stress management (e.g., yoga or meditation), and preventive treatments like Botox or injectables (e.g., Aimovig) provide long-term hope. 

Though chronic for many, migraines can often be managed effectively with the right combination of medical care and self-care.

Good sleep can reduce migraines, and red light therapy (RLT) may support this. In one study, researchers gave elite Chinese female basketball players 30 minutes of red light exposure nightly for 14 days. 

They found that RLT significantly improved the players’ sleep quality and boosted melatonin, a hormone essential for restful sleep. This non-invasive approach may help reduce migraine frequency by enhancing sleep quality.

• Good blood flow can help reduce migraine pain: Improved blood circulation plays a key role in easing migraine symptoms. Red light therapy helps by boosting the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the brain, which may lower how often and how severely migraines happen.

• Red light therapy helps open up your blood vessels: This type of therapy works by widening blood vessels, making it easier for blood to reach the brain. Better blood flow means your brain gets more of what it needs to function properly, which can help with migraine relief.

• A specific red light (670 nm) supports better blood flow: A  study  found that using 670 nm red light helps relax and open up blood vessels. This happens because the light encourages the release of helpful substances that tell the vessels to widen and improve circulation.

• Your body releases helpful signals when exposed to red light: The same study showed that red light causes tiny particles in your body to carry special molecules (called RSNO). These molecules help relax the walls of your blood vessels, which supports smoother and more efficient blood flow.

• Tight muscles in your neck and shoulders can make migraines worse: Tension in the head, neck, and shoulder muscles is a common trigger for migraine pain. When these muscles stay tight, they can increase the frequency and intensity of migraines.

• Red light therapy helps relax those tight muscles: Using red light therapy can calm and loosen tense muscles. This can ease pressure in areas that often lead to migraine discomfort.

• It also brings down inflammation that causes pain: Red light therapy doesn’t just relax muscles, it also reduces swelling and irritation in the muscles, which helps relieve pain linked to migraines.

• Studies show it speeds up muscle healing and recovery: In  research  with identical twins, red light therapy was shown to reduce muscle damage and improve recovery after workouts. This proves its ability to support muscle health and reduce tension.

• Better mitochondria can help reduce migraines: Mitochondria play a key role in keeping the brain healthy and reducing inflammation, which are both important in managing migraine symptoms. When your cells produce energy more efficiently, your brain is better supported.

• Red light helps your cells make more energy: Red light therapy boosts how well mitochondria work. This means your cells can produce more energy, which may help your brain recover faster and lower migraine pain.

• Studies show red light boosts cell activity: A  study  by Yuki Umino and Mitsuhiro Denda found that exposing skin cells to red light for two hours increased both cell growth and mitochondrial activity. This proves red light can energize your cells in a natural way.

• Using red light could give natural migraine relief: By supporting mitochondrial function and reducing inflammation, red light therapy could be a simple, drug-free option for people looking to ease migraine symptoms.

• When serotonin is balanced, migraine pain can go down: Balancing serotonin levels plays a crucial role in easing migraines because serotonin helps control pain signals in the brain. When levels are stable, people often experience fewer and less intense headaches.

• Red light therapy may help the brain adjust serotonin naturally: Red light therapy (RLT) seems to support the brain in managing serotonin levels more effectively. This natural adjustment might help reduce how often and how strongly migraines show up.

• A study found more serotonin and much less pain after light therapy: In a study by  Miriam Tomaz de Magalhães et a l ., published in Experimental Biology and Medicine, people with chronic headaches caused by jaw-related issues (TMD) received low-level laser therapy (a type of red light therapy). After the sessions, their serotonin levels went up, and their pain dropped by 64%.

• This could be a simple, drug-free way to feel better: Because red light therapy helps increase serotonin, it may offer a safe and natural option for managing migraines without relying on medication.

When selecting a red light therapy device, you have options: handheld devices , panels , and masks. 

Handheld devices are portable and perfect for targeting specific areas , while panels can cover larger areas quickly.

Masks are designed for facial treatment . Choose based on your preference for ease of use and the area you want to treat.

Handheld devices are often recommended for migraines since they allow for targeted treatment .

To treat migraines effectively, focus on the forehead and temples , as these are common pain points.

It’s crucial to target these areas because they can help alleviate pain more directly. By concentrating the therapy on regions where migraine symptoms occur , you enhance the treatment’s effectiveness, allowing for quicker relief and minimizing discomfort .

The optimal wavelength for treating migraines with red light therapy ranges from 600 to 900 nanometers. 

This range penetrates the skin effectively, promoting healing and reducing inflammation. Using the correct wavelength ensures that the therapy reaches the right depth in your tissues, maximizing its potential benefits for migraine relief and overall wellness. 

Before starting red light therapy, ensure your skin is clean and free from any creams or lotions. 

Find a comfortable and quiet place where you can relax during the session. Take a moment to breathe deeply and ease into the experience. 

Proper preparation can enhance your results , making the therapy session more effective and enjoyable as you focus on relieving migraine pain.

Protecting your eyes during red light therapy is essential because direct exposure to bright light can cause discomfort or damage. 

Use protective eyewear specifically designed for this purpose to shield your eyes from excessive brightness.

This step ensures you can fully benefit from the therapy without worrying about eye strain , allowing you to relax and focus on alleviating your migraine symptoms.

• Green light may calm the brain and reduce migraine triggers: Green light therapy is a non-drug method that uses a certain shade of green light to soothe the brain. This calming effect may help reduce the things that trigger migraines.

• A recent study shows promising results for migraine sufferers: In 2024,  Tsung-Wei Hou  and his team studied how green light therapy affects people with chronic migraines. The results were encouraging.

• People had fewer migraines and felt better overall: Those who used green light therapy regularly had fewer migraines, and the pain wasn’t as strong. They also slept better and felt less anxious. There were almost no side effects.

• It looks helpful, but more research is still needed: While the early results are positive, scientists say more large studies are needed. This will help find out who benefits the most and how well it works for different types of migraines.

To effectively alleviate migraine pain, integrating red light therapy into your treatment plan could be a valuable strategy.

This therapy works by enhancing sleep quality, improving blood circulation, relieving muscle tension, and balancing serotonin levels, all of which are vital in reducing migraine frequency and intensity.

To maximize the benefits, ensure you select the right device, target the appropriate areas, and use the correct wavelengths during therapy sessions.

As you explore red light therapy, approach it mindfully and consider its potential alongside other treatments. 

By confidently incorporating this non-invasive therapy into your health regimen, you can take proactive steps toward better migraine management and improved overall well-being.