When you’re already experiencing benefits from a well-established routine integrating red light therapy at home, getting sick can seem like a hindrance. While the treatment is known for supporting cellular repair and reducing inflammation, it’s not always clear how those benefits translate when your immune system is actively fighting something off.
So, should you still continue the treatment or break your streak for a while to recover?
In this guide, our experts at Rojo Light Therapy US will offer clear guidance on how to approach red light therapy at home when you’re feeling under the weather, so you can support your recovery without second-guessing your routine.
While red light therapy isn’t a cure for illness, evidence suggests it may offer support in ways that align with what your body needs during periods of immune stress: reduced inflammation, improved energy metabolism, and better tissue resilience.
Let’s break that down:
At the core of red light therapy’s benefits is its impact on mitochondria. When exposed to a specific wavelength, typically in the 600–660 nm (red) and 800–850 nm (near-infrared) range, cells absorb photons, stimulating cytochrome c oxidase, a key enzyme in the electron transport chain.
This results in increased production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the molecule that powers cellular activity.
This mitochondrial activation is directly linked to:
More specifically, in a 2017 review, Hamblin described how photobiomodulation not only increases ATP production but also modulates key transcription factors like NF-κB, which plays a central role in immune and inflammatory pathways. This suggests red light therapy may help the body regulate inflammation during illness, especially when inflammation is contributing to symptoms.
One of the most misunderstood claims in wellness circles is that red light therapy “boosts” the immune system. What’s more accurate is that it modulates immune function.
Red light therapy at home may:
While clinical studies on red light therapy during active illness are limited, here’s what we can reasonably say based on current evidence and its known biological effects:
Photobiomodulation applied around the nasal passages or sinuses may help reduce mucosal inflammation and improve localized blood flow, potentially easing congestion. In one study in 2019 concluded that red light therapy was found to help decrease nasal passage inflammation and congestion in subjects suffering from allergic rhinitis.
Post-viral fatigue is driven by mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation. Fortunately, these are all pathways red light therapy interacts with and can provide benefits to.
In a 2019 randomized controlled trial in the Journal of Biophotonics, photobiomodulation decreased fatigue and mitochondrial function in fibromyalgia patients, pointing to a potential role in energy restoration during or after illness.
Red light therapy is well-documented for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in soft tissue, which may help alleviate muscle soreness and stiffness during illness.
The same mechanisms that provide pain reduction for joint inflammation and muscle pain in patients with injuries or musculoskeletal disorders may apply during flu-related body aches.
Red light exposure, particularly in the evening, may help promote melatonin production and calm the nervous system, a key factor when rest is essential for recovery.
While red light therapy is widely regarded as safe and non-invasive, being sick introduces new variables, and in certain cases, continuing your routine may not be the best idea. Here are a few instances when temporarily discontinuing your red light therapy use may be best:
A fever is your body’s natural response to infection. It raises your internal temperature to create an inhospitable environment for pathogens and to accelerate immune activity.
While there’s no clinical evidence suggesting red light therapy can worsen fevers, it’s generally recommended to stop treatments like red light therapy until the body’s temperature has stabilized.
Instead, rest and hydrate. Only revisit red light therapy when the fever subsides. At that point, it may support recovery.
Some medications, including certain antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and chemotherapy drugs, can make your skin more sensitive to light or alter immune response pathways.
Examples include:
Using red light therapy during illness while on these medications could increase the risk of unwanted skin reactions or interfere with how your immune system is responding to infection.
If you're dealing with pneumonia, a chronic respiratory condition, cardiovascular issues, or other more serious health conditions, red light therapy should only be used under professional guidance.
This isn’t because red light therapy is inherently dangerous, but because:
For this situation, always clear red light therapy use with your doctor, ideally one familiar with photobiomodulation or willing to review device specs like wavelength, irradiance, and treatment area.
When you're feeling unwell, your first priority should always be rest and recovery, not forcing yourself to stick to a routine. Even if red light therapy is normally beneficial, your body may be telling you it needs less stimulation and more stillness.
Used wisely, red light therapy at home can be a gentle ally in your healing process, one that meets your body where it’s at, not where it used to be. But timing also matters. If you’re in the thick of a fever, on certain medications, or managing a more serious condition, pressing pause may be the smarter move.
At Rojo, we design our red light therapy panels for real-life wellness, including the days when your body needs extra care. With medical-grade LEDs, clinically relevant wavelengths, and intuitive at-home use, our devices give you the confidence to support your recovery gently and safely.
