What to know about red light therapy mats

Back here on GMA with our Science of You series. This morning we're taking a look at red light therapy. We've all heard about the face mask, right? They've been around for a while, but now people are using it on their whole body. So Becky Worley is here to illuminate us on this technology. Hey, Becky. Rachel, good morning. We all want to feel better without having to work for it, right? So the idea of a light source that rejuvenates your muscles, skin and joints, it sounds good, but is it too good to be true? And more importantly, what does science say about this technology? I want clear skin. I want it to be like glowy and nice. I just love this thing. Social media has gone crazy for red light therapy, even Norway's superstar striker Erling Haaland using it as part of his normal regimen. We've seen red light caps for hair growth and masks for skin rejuvenation, but now with more products on the market, including this full body mat that also promised muscle recovery, better sleep and an improved mood, I want to know what research says about the technology and what it's like to actually use one of these for a few months. This full body red light mat from Higher Dose costs $1,199. The company sent it to us to test and says you can use it like a blanket or you can hang it from the wall and exercise or meditate. I also asked Stanford dermatology professor Dr. Zakia Rahman about the technology. I think it's actually really perfect for people to incorporate as like a home regimen. It's very safe and has good efficacy and good science. There are other devices that target specific areas and cost less like masks and hats. I think the strongest evidence is for increased hair growth and for rejuvenation of the skin, lessening of the fine lines, improving texture of the skin, reducing some inflammation of the skin. Called photobiomodulation, research shows that visible red light and invisible near red infrared light of a specific wavelength and intensity penetrate the skin and actually stimulate the mitochondria, the cellular powerhouses of the body. And while that may seem crazy, think of the effect that sunlight has on our skin and on our bodies. But what are the limits and can it harm you? Use it as intended. Try not to use it over potential areas that could be that could cause damage, like over your eye. If you have a mask or device, don't try to hold it closer or adjust it. A little bit of warmth is OK, but if you start to feel a lot of heat, turn it off because any device can malfunction. Now, a few things about this red light mask. You're supposed to use it right directly on your skin, so without a lot of clothing on. But for the sake of this TV demonstration, I spared you all that while you're eating your Cheerios. So, yeah, you know, in your bathing suit or what have you. And, you know, you can feel it, right? I mean, it's not it has a feel to you. I mean, that's it's not hot, but you can tell that there's something coming from. Yeah, it's warm. Yeah, it's not like a sauna where you're used to just being like, right, right. But we don't need that this summer. When I saw this, I thought, wait till my husband sees me come home with this thing in the middle of the living room. But you tried this for the last 90 days. What was your experience like? OK, so what I experienced is that it was subtle, if any, with the mat. I've used the mask and I've used it on my hair. And with the mask, it got rid of my rosacea. It was incredible. Really? Yeah. And with the I did find that my hair grew faster. But with the joint recovery and the muscles feeling better, you know, that was a little more subtle. And for twelve hundred dollars, I'm not sure I would make that investment. This is a value proposition. Yeah, it's a pretty pricey investment. And that's what a lot of people say online, that maybe it helps a joint. Maybe it helps with mood. Also, mood enhancing higher dose. The company that provided this for us, they said people come for the vanity and they stay for the mood enhancement. I didn't experience that, but, you know, it's it felt good and it was relaxing. Yeah. Maybe just taking the time out. Exactly. Maybe that's what it is. Just taking some time for you is really important. Thanks, Becky. It's my pleasure to have you here. All right. Let's go to get my red light mask out of the box that's been sitting there forever. Thank you very much.