Light therapy seems like a trend from the last few years. In fact, its history is longer than that of antibiotics.
1903: Nobel Prize for Light
Danish physician Niels Ryberg Finsen received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1903 for treating cutaneous tuberculosis with concentrated light.
This was the first official recognition that light could be a medical tool, not just for illumination. After the discovery of antibiotics, interest waned for decades.
1967: The Accidental Discovery
Hungarian surgeon Endre Mester wanted to check if laser light caused cancer in mice. He irradiated shaved animals with a low-energy laser.
Cancer did not appear. Instead, Mester noticed that hair grew faster and wounds healed more quickly in the irradiated mice.
He called the phenomenon laser biostimulation. Today we call it photobiomodulation — and this is the same mechanism described in the mitochondrial biology of photobiomodulation.
NASA and Plants in Space
In the 1990s, NASA researched how to grow food during long space missions. Sunlight was absent, and classic lamps were heavy and consumed a lot of energy.
The solution was red LED diodes — lightweight, energy-efficient, and precisely in the wavelengths that plants use.
The side observation is what made history: researchers working with these panels reported that cuts on their hands healed faster than usual. This opened up an entire program to investigate LED light for tissue healing.
This is where the technology transitioned from lasers to LEDs — cheaper, safer, and suitable for large areas.
The Path to Dermatology
After 2000, the first serious dermatological studies appeared.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1903 | Finsen receives Nobel Prize |
| 1967 | Mester describes biostimulation |
| 1990s | NASA popularizes LED for healing |
| 2000 | Papageorgiou: 76% reduction in acne lesions |
| 2013–2014 | Controlled studies on hair loss and collagen |
| After 2015 | Mass market home devices |
Papageorgiou's 2000 study was groundbreaking — more on that in LED for acne. For hair loss — in Hair Loss and LED Therapy.
Today
The technology that cost tens of thousands of dollars in the 90s and was only found in laboratories is now in the bathroom.
This is both good and problematic. Good — because access is real. Problematic — because the market became flooded with devices that adopt the language of science but not its measurements.
Therefore, the only practical filter remains the same one that was important to Mester: what is the dose. See mW/cm² and J/cm².
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it true that NASA invented LED therapy? No. NASA popularized LED as a source and funded research, but the phenomenon was described by Mester in 1967.
Why has it only now become popular? The price of powerful diodes dropped sharply after 2010.
Is it the same as a solarium? No. A solarium emits UV. LED therapy contains no UV component.
Related articles
- The Mitochondrial Biology of Photobiomodulation
- Clinical Data on LED Therapy
- Dr. Renú LED Face Masks
Sources
- Mester E et al. Experientia. 1968.
- Papageorgiou P et al. Br J Dermatol. 2000.
- Avci P et al. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2013.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
