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Light Therapy for Eczema

Light Therapy is a treatment option that uses UV light to treat itching and other skin symptoms that come with eczema. Exposing the skin to this type of light intends to suppress some of the skin/immune system cells that cause inflammation. As with almost any treatment, there are some potential downsides/side effects, but overall those who are living with eczema find that light therapy is an effective way to treat it.

In general, artificially produced light is becoming more of a popular treatment for eczema because it is easy to control and monitor (especially while under the supervision of a medical professional). Another positive is that light therapy is proving successful at not only treating eczema but a variety of conditions (to give you clearer and better-looking skin).

The Benefits of Using Light Therapy on Eczema

There are several benefits that people tend to report when it comes to light therapy treatment of eczema. As we begin to discuss these benefits, please keep in mind that it’s always recommended to talk with your doctor and do not abruptly stop your other treatments and/or medications without thorough research and consideration.

  • Flexibility – One of the best benefits of light therapy is that it covers such a broad spectrum of symptoms and conditions. While a great deal of additional research needs to be performed, light therapy is showing promising results when it comes to treating chronic ailments. If you use light therapy properly, it can potentially provide a great deal of relief without subjecting you to an array of side effects (that tend to be common with other prescription medications).
  • Safety – Light therapy is also generally very safe to use. It comes courtesy of low-level light… light that isn’t strong enough to cause damage to the skin but is strong enough to provide the intended benefits on a plethora of areas (mainly taking extra precautions when working around the eyes). As mentioned before, when performed under the supervision and care of a doctor, most people find that light therapy is an all-around safe & effective option.
  • Pain-free – Light therapy should not cause any pain or require any sort of recovery time. There are many available treatments that you can use for your eczema that tend to cause pain and a good deal of discomfort as well. Fortunately, this is not the case when using light therapy to help you get relief. Light therapy treatment can be done in short sessions, and one of the only side effects tends to be a little tightness in the skin. Most patients notice relief (rather than pain) when they start to implement light therapy.

The Potential Negatives of Using Light Therapy on Eczema

While there are a lot of great benefits to using light therapy to treat your eczema, it is important to realize that there are a few risks that are associated with treatment. Some of the risks that you should consider and discuss with your doctor include:

  • Burning – In some cases, artificial light, similar to what we see with natural sunlight, can cause some sunburn and blistering. You may notice that the skin reddens and itches if you use the light too long, but this is typically due to using incorrect products/usage. Those with lighter complexions are more lightly to burn and may struggle to use UV light therapy of any kind. Discuss this with your doctor before using light therapy for any condition if it is a concern.
  • Skin damage – For those who are not careful with how much light therapy they use, there is always the potential for a little skin damage. The skin may also develop more freckles and become wrinkled with prolonged use.
  • Skin cancer – There haven’t been any issues reported with skin cancer while using light therapy thus far (and in some cases, red light therapy is often used to help treat skin cancer), but this remains a relatively new therapy. In general, being exposed to UV light for too long can cause issues so it is something to watch for.
  • PUVA – The medication that you may see used in tandem with light therapy can sometimes cause nausea and headaches for some people. Also, if you do not use adequate eye protection while using light therapy, this can potentially cause cataracts.

Overall, using light therapy is an effective way to treat eczema and many other conditions of the skin throughout the body. You can work with your doctor to determine exactly how long to keep the light on the area during treatment. This helps to ensure you receive all the benefits while limiting any negative side effects that we discussed above.

For most patients, about half an hour is plenty of time with light therapy. Depending on your medical condition, you may need to visit a specialist to do your treatments. There are also some at-home devices available that allow you to administer treatment in the comfort of your own home.

As many are aware, treating eczema is a difficult chore. There are treatments out there, but many of them are difficult to use and can make the itching and dry skin worse. While light therapy is still in its infancy, there is enough momentum for it to be considered as a possible form of relief.

Light Therapy for Insomnia

Many people have the unfortunate burden of having to live with insomnia. No matter how tired they are, they find it hard to fall asleep at night or may continuously wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to get back to bed.

Insomnia can ruin your health because it prevents you from getting the rest/sleep that you need. If you are someone who suffers from insomnia, then red light therapy may be just what you need to feel better.

Infrared Massage / Light Therapy

There are many holistic therapies that you can use to help get your body in the best health possible. Some are quite simple and some are a bit more complex.

One of the best options that you can choose (for almost every part of your body), and one that doesn’t come with a lot of side effects, is known as red light therapy.

Red Light Therapy for Testosterone

Testosterone is the main sex hormone that helps men perform sexually and reproduce. While this is the primary function of the hormone, it is also there to help with bone mass, muscle mass, facial hair, voice development, and other health conditions.

As men age, their testosterone levels can start to deplete. This is completely normal but can bring about some harmful side effects as well. Red light therapy is a great way to increase your testosterone and keep you as healthy as possible.

Red Light Therapy Pros and Cons

For many patients who are dealing with some chronic conditions in their lives, it is important to find a treatment that will help ease the symptoms (without all the harmful medications). One method, known as red light therapy, is gaining a lot of popularity because it is a safe, natural, and effective treatment for many conditions. This therapy can help with bone health, insomnia, hair loss, arthritis, and many other conditions.

While red light therapy is a relatively new type of treatment, it is taking the world by storm. In this article, we will take some time to discuss the pros and cons of using red light therapy so you can decide if this is a good therapy for you to use.

Planet Fitness Total Body Enhancement Review

​Calling all fitness fans! The Planet Fitness group has added an exciting new piece of equipment to their gyms – the Planet Fitness Total Body Enhancement, also known as the Beauty Angel.

This advanced machine uses a combination of total vibration technology and red light therapy. Red light therapy boosts your health via exposure to gentle and safe near-infrared rays, which help to promote weight loss.

What is Total Body Enhancement?

The Total Body Enhancement machine is a body enhancement booth. Red light therapy panels cover the walls, and there’s a platform-based vibration pad, which vibrates and tones the whole body.

This Vibra Shape technology stimulates muscle activity and increases circulation. It’s complemented with red light therapy which not only targets fat cells (and therefore promotes weight loss) but also offers improved skin tone and lessens the appearance of cellulite, stretch marks, and other imperfections.

Planet Fitness’ Total Body Enhancement booth is totally enclosed, making for complete privacy. It has overhead ventilation providing optimum cooling, which is a major plus during the warmer months. As an added bonus, it’s fitted with an MP3 player connection so you can enjoy your own music while getting your red light therapy at Planet Fitness.

What does Total Body Enhancement do?

The Total Body Enhancement treatment can be used to improve skin tone and texture. How? By helping to reverse and control the visible signs of aging – decreasing wrinkles and firming the skin through red light therapy.

The vibration pad is also used to improve skin tone, stimulates muscle motion or activity, and increases circulation.

How do you use the Total Body Enhancement machine?

A session in the Beauty Angel Total Body Enhancement booth is a great addition to your fitness routine, before or after your workout.

This machine offers low-impact muscle toning. It’s excellent to use before your sweat session to warm up the muscles and enhance microcirculation. And if you’re feeling those muscles grumble after the gym, the Total Body Enhancement works to reduce soreness and relieve tightness in the joints.

If you’re short on time or aren’t in the mood to move, the Beauty Angel booth can be used independently of exercise as a stand-alone session. It will help you build core strength, muscle tone, and relax.

Using the machine is easy. So easy, it’s a completely self-service booth where you set the controls yourself. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  1. Press the start button on the remote.
  2. Activate the vibrating footpad by pressing the white button on the left side of the remote. Press the button twice. The foot icon on the top left of the remote will light up once set.
  3. Now it’s time to set your vibration intensity, choosing from four different programs.
  4. After choosing your vibration setting, allow the LED screen to clear.
  5. Finally, turn on the fan. Touch the white button on the right side of the remote twice until the fan light comes on. You can adjust the fan to a speed that suits you. Push the dial all the way up to 11 to keep your cool while relaxing in the Total Body Enhancement machine.

Total Body Enhancement’s Vibra Shape program

The Vibra Shape program is a vibration program that runs for 10 minutes in each program setting.

There are four different programs for the client to choose from. The intensity and duration of each program can be set to meet your individual needs.

Program # 1.

Low Intensity – This is the ‘feel great’ program. This program improves flexibility while relaxing and loosening tight muscles with gentle movements at a low-impact vibration frequency.

Program # 2.

Medium Intensity – This is labeled the ‘new you’ program and is specially designed for beginners. Program # 2 is ideal for people starting or trying to regain their fitness regimen. The medium intensity program utilizes medium-frequency vibration and massage technology to improve muscle tone and appearance with controlled, alternating movements.

Program # 3.

High Intensity – This program is the cross-training level, using intense vibration combined with high-frequency interval training. This balanced program strengthens muscles with powerful movements, making it perfect for sportsmen/women or exercise enthusiasts.

Program # 4.

Mixed Intensity – This mixed frequency cycle targets specific muscle groups in the arms, legs, abs, and glutes. This helps to tighten and tone muscles while providing an energizing workout.

How often should I use the Total Body Enhancement?

Planet Fitness’ red light therapy is safe, non-invasive, uses no chemicals or drugs, and is not associated with harmful side effects. The company recommends starting with 3-5 sessions per week for the first 1-4 weeks.

Once you’re comfortable with the equipment, Total Body Enhancement can be used daily. For best results, team it with a balanced diet and exercise to maximize your chances of dropping weight and toning up those troublesome problem spots.

Unlocking the benefits of red light therapy

Red light therapy is becoming more and more popular thanks to its many benefits.

Our bodies absorb red light wavelengths, converting them into cellular energy, which stimulates many metabolic processes.

Stimulated by red light, cellular mitochondria release more ATP, a form of energy that equips cells to function at optimum levels. This healing energy also increases the production of collagen and elastin, which are two important proteins that are crucial to skin health.

The benefits of red light therapy aren’t just skin deep, however. The treatment gives you energy before your workout to improve your performance and helps after your training – supporting post-exercise muscle recovery by reducing inflammation and joint pain.

By boosting cellular energy, red light therapy helps to:

  • Promote weight loss
  • Repair damage to the skin caused by sun exposure and age
  • Improve and even out skin tone
  • Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
  • Treat acne, blemished skin, and scarring to the skin
  • Accelerate wound healing
  • Reduce inflammation and pain

Benefits of Total Body Enhancement using Red Light Therapy

You can get red light therapy in all sorts of ways, but the Planet Fitness Beauty Angel is one of the best methods. Why? It’s safe, easy, and has the following advantages:

  • It’s free from dangerous UV rays
  • It stimulates and energizes muscles before workouts
  • It refreshes and relaxes after workouts
  • It offers low-impact muscle toning on legs, arms, abs, and glutes
  • It’s quick – total session time is around 12 minutes, and you can also pick the 10 minute Vibra Shape program, which includes a warm-up and a cool-down.

With the Beauty Angel offering cellulite removal, wrinkle reduction, smoother, tighter skin, energized and toned muscles, as well as reduced inflammation and joint pain, it’s the perfect companion to your next workout!

Technical Specifications of the Total Body Enhancement/Beauty Angel machine:

POWER

Total Power consumption: 8,700 watts
Electrical requirements: 230V
Circuit breaker recommendation: 30A / 3 pole or 50A / 2 pole

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 1,055 lbs
Dimensions (closed): 55 x 55 x 93 inches (LxWxH)
Dimensions (open): 73 x 55 x 93 inches (LxWxH)
Minimum ceiling height: 9ft
Recommended room size: 8 x 7ft

planet fitness total body enhancement