Can I use a grow light for red light therapy
Andrew Campbell
Published Apr 09, 2026
You can use a grow light for red light skin therapy so long as that grow light uses wavelengths we are good at absorbing. So it depends on which grow light you’re using. 630–660 nm is a good red light range. 830nm to 1400 nm is a good infrared range.
Are grow lights the same as red light therapy?
You can use a grow light for red light skin therapy so long as that grow light uses wavelengths we are good at absorbing. So it depends on which grow light you’re using. 630–660 nm is a good red light range. 830nm to 1400 nm is a good infrared range.
Can a grow light be used as a SAD light?
The only requirement is sunshine–specifically ultraviolet B rays,” according to Mayo Clinic website. And just as people need vitamin D to thrive, so do plants. It makes sense, therefore, that full-spectrum light bulbs–those used in light therapy to treat Season Affective Disorder–could be used to help plants grow.
Can you use grow lights on skin?
At a high enough intensity, any type of light, regardless of the source has the potential to harm the eyes or skin through prolonged thermal exposure or photochemical effects of ultraviolet, blue light &/or infrared emissions.Do grow lights have infrared?
In the same way that the Sun is able to emit infrared light that outdoor plants can receive, grow lights can also provide IR light for indoor plants. … That’s because grow lights are able to provide the right infrared wavelengths that actually trigger plant growth and aid in photosynthesis.
Can you get vitamin D from grow lamps?
Yes, light therapy lamps can help your body make vitamin D, but you shouldn’t ignore their risks. They’re able to do this because they use UV light, which means spending time under them can increase your risk of skin cancer just as laying out in the sun would.
Do grow lights give you vitamin D?
Summary: Light from RayVio’s 293nm ultraviolet (UV) LED is more efficient than sunlight at producing vitamin D3 in skin samples, research shows.
Can grow light burn plants?
Light, even intense light, probably won’t burn your plants. If a plant is getting too much light, it can challenge your crops and be counterproductive, but it won’t actually cause burning. … Usually, it’s the heat that burns your crop, causing tissue death and crop losses.Do LED grow lights emit UVB?
UV light is divided into UVA, UVB, and UVC light. … Likewise, most LED grow light manufacturers keep UVC out of their supplemental UV lights. However, most UV lights will contain UVA and UVB. As you probably know, UV rays can cause skin cancer with prolonged exposure and no protection.
Are grow lights better than sunlight?There’s a lot more to photosynthesis, but for our conversation about LEDs, this is a perfect summary. While photosynthesis originally evolved as a reaction to sunlight, the development of indoor farming has proven that indoor grow lights can be as, if not more, effective than the sun.
Article first time published onWhat kind of light is used for light therapy?
Light therapy for skin disorders uses a lamp that emits ultraviolet (UV) light. This type of light should be filtered out in light therapy boxes used for SAD and other conditions because it can damage your eyes and skin.
What color light is best for SAD?
Research indicates that blue light is superior to other lights in the spectrum for treating depression. Studies show that blue light can be used at a specific wavelength and frequency at less intensity than full spectrum bright light to achieve the same kind of effects.
Can you use regular LED lights for light therapy?
Safety: Unlike other types of light therapy, LEDs do not contain ultraviolet rays . Therefore, they’re safe for regular use. LED light therapy doesn’t cause burns compared to other anti-aging treatments such as chemical peels, dermabrasion, and laser therapy.
What happens if infrared light is used for photosynthesis?
IR light stimulates growth, bloom, and photosynthesis. When you effectively use IR light for plants, you will see major benefits that would not otherwise be possible.
Do plants need UV light?
Ultraviolet light is extremely important for plant growth. In safe doses, ultraviolet light helps plants and crops produce essential plant oils which not only enhance the flavour and smell of fruit but also helps the plants protect themselves from excessive ultraviolet exposure; acting as their own natural sunblock.
Can grow lights cause sunburn?
Intense lights can cause burns on the skin, and a “sunburn” on the retinas will interfere with your ability to see. … At the same time, very bright lights too close to the plants could “sunburn” them, too. Have the lights at the right distance from the plants to avoid this. Most wavelengths are not harmful.
How long do you need to be in sun to get vitamin D?
Regular sun exposure is the most natural way to get enough vitamin D. To maintain healthy blood levels, aim to get 10–30 minutes of midday sunlight, several times per week. People with darker skin may need a little more than this.
What kind of light gives you vitamin D?
Sunlight, in particular UVB between the wavelengths of 290 and 315 nm, is the main source for producing vitamin D in the skin and is the primary source of vitamin D for the body.
Why are grow lights pink?
Pink LED fixtures usually contain red and white LEDs, creating a less purplish, whiter light than purple LED fixtures. These fixtures are usually slightly less efficient than purple LED fixtures because white LEDs are slightly less efficient than blue LEDs. However, the spectrum is more pleasing to the eye.
Can I use any blue and red LED light to grow plants?
Blue promotes root development and strong, stocky plant growth. When you blast your young plants with blue, you prepare them to sustain a ton of buds in the future. Red light, on the other hand, does its best work in the flowering phase. A higher intensity of red promotes a higher yield.
Do purple LED lights help plants grow?
Violet or purple light has a shorter wavelength and higher energy, and is thought to be effective as a secondary light source to facilitate growth and development of a plant’s leafy vegetation. … With more chlorophyll, a plant generates more nutrients and grows taller with more leafy vegetation.
Can too much LED light hurt plants?
Myth #14: LED Lights Can’t Damage Plants The reality is that modern LED grow lights can produce a very high level of light and it can cause photo-bleaching and burn leaves. This depends very much on the plant, but a PPFD of 800 is enough to damage some plants.
Is too much grow light bad for plants?
To put it bluntly, yes, too much light can eventually kill your plant. The light intensity can produces increasingly severe damage to your plant to the point where it dies. It can also dry out the plant to the point where it no longer has the water it needs for growth and photosynthesis.
How long should a plant be under a grow light?
To be effective, grow lights really need to be on for at least 8-10 hours a day. This can vary up to 16 hours, depending on the conditions. That’s why LED grow lights are so popular – when they have to be left on all day, it’s best to use an energy efficient type! Always position a grow light above the plant.
What color grow light is best?
Blue is the most important light for plant growth, because it is readily absorbed by chlorophyll and converted into energy through photosynthesis. That said, blue light on its own is not nearly as effective as blue combined with red.
Why are grow lights red and blue?
While red is most efficient for photosynthesis, having only red light would result in poor growth such as very elongated stems, so blue is added to keep plants compact and a more typical shape.
Is red light better than sunlight for plants?
Sunlight generally provides a better quality of light for plants. Plants primarily use light from the red and blue spectra, which is readily available from sunlight. … You can almost equal the quality of sunlight with grow lights if you only use full-spectrum bulbs.
What kind of light do SAD lamps emit?
Lamps used for skin disorders primarily emit ultraviolet (UV) light and could damage your eyes if used incorrectly. Light boxes used to treat SAD should filter out most or all UV light.
Are there different levels of red light therapy?
photobiomodulation (PBM) low level light therapy (LLLT) soft laser therapy.
What is another name for red light therapy?
Red light therapy is also called low-level laser therapy (LLLT), low-power laser therapy (LPLT), and photobiomodulation (PBM).
What color light helps with anxiety?
Blue light therapy is often claimed to help mood disorders and anxiety perhaps by influencing the biological clock. Studies for the same are underway. Some studies have reported that people with anxiety were more likely to associate their mood with the color gray.