Red light therapy might feel like one of those “new” wellness tools everyone suddenly started talking about, but its roots actually stretch back more than a century. What is new, though, is the way it’s become part of everyday routines — whether that’s recovery sessions for athletes, beauty treatments for skin, or 10-minute wellness boosts you can book at spas and studios around the world.
So who exactly put full-body red light therapy on the map?
The short answer: Joovv.
In 2016, Joovv became the first brand to create a device that made full-body red light therapy accessible at home. Before then, treatments were mostly confined to medical settings, high-end clinics, or research labs. By making something that was practical (and affordable) for daily use, Joovv opened the door for athletes, trainers, and everyday wellness enthusiasts to try red light as part of their lifestyle. That’s where the “mainstream” moment really began.
But the story goes back much further:
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Late 1800s – Niels Ryberg Finsen
A Danish physician who used concentrated light to treat skin conditions like lupus vulgaris. His work earned him a Nobel Prize in 1903 and laid the foundation for medical light therapy. -
1960s – Endre Mester
A Hungarian researcher experimenting with low-level lasers discovered that red light could speed up healing and even trigger hair regrowth. His studies are considered the starting point for modern low-level laser therapy (LLLT). -
1990s – NASA Research
While testing light for plant growth in space, NASA found that red and near-infrared light could accelerate tissue repair and healing in astronauts. This discovery pushed red light deeper into the field of human health and recovery. -
2010s – Consumer Wellness
With Joovv’s launch of the first full-body, home-friendly device, red light therapy jumped from clinical use into the wellness world. Now it’s a staple in gyms, recovery centers, spas, and personal routines worldwide.
| Origin | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Niels Ryberg Finsen (1890s) | Established light therapy in medicine, especially for skin disease |
| Endre Mester (1960s) | Pioneered use of low-level lasers for wound healing and tissue regeneration |
| NASA Research (1990s) | Demonstrated regenerative potential of red/NIR light |
| Joovv (2016) | Made full-body red light therapy widely accessible for home use |
Why It Matters Today
Full-body red light therapy is no longer limited to athletes or medical studies. Whether you’re sitting in a 40-minute compression session, pairing your recovery with red light, or adding IV therapy to boost hydration and nutrients, the landscape of wellness has shifted toward accessible, science-backed tools that make people feel and perform better.
So while scientists and doctors paved the way, it was brands like Joovv that truly popularized full-body red light therapy and brought it into everyday life. And judging by how quickly it’s growing, this “red glow” is only getting brighter.
