Why Not Have Red Lights On At Night?

Last Updated on May 20, 2021 By Emma W. Thomas

The human eyes don’t respond well to red light because it is a poor color for illumination. Our eyes are less sensitive to red and blue and more sensitive to yellow and green to enable clear night vision without strain. Red lights are dangerous if you’re exposed to them directly through contact with broken bulbs made with a toxic substance in concentrated amounts.

 Have you ever wondered why it is not advisable to have the red lights on at night? Please read through to find out why you shouldn’t have red lights on at night. In this article, we’ll take you through the effects of red lights on sleep plus the advantages and disadvantages of having them at night. 

With floodlights to protect us, streetlights for guidance, and warning lights for alerting us, modern society has brought many lights into our lives. Particularly at night, all that light is not always positive despite being helpful to us. The negative effects of using the LED, red, and blue lights at night far outweigh any perceived benefits and can be both physical and mental as an illuminating fact. 

Red lights contain a substance known as AGA (aluminum gallium arsenide)that is harmful to your health and can be deadly if exposed in rigorous amounts. The light that emits red light wavelengths is the type of red light that disrupts your sleep at night. 

What Are The Effects Of The Red Light On Sleep?

To understand the relationship between light and sleep, we have to start by getting to know melatonin. The production of melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone that helps you sleep, is released in low amounts when exposed to light during the day. When darkness falls, the brain releases more of it at night. The circadian rhythm and light affect your endurance performance, melatonin levels, and improved sleep quality. Did you know that the ability to fall asleep is closely related to color based on personal preference?

Here are more effects of having the red lights on at night;

1. Research has shown that losing sleep from the light at night can lead to various issues such as irritability to memory impairment, disease, and illness. 

2. The hormones produced at night, cortisol and melatonin, can even play major roles in fighting off cancer. Having the lights on at night increase the risk of getting cancer and disrupt a peaceful rest, making it difficult to stay asleep or even fall asleep.

3. You might have difficulties adjusting, especially if you are very sensitive to light. 

4. If you want to fall back to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night, you will experience hardships with the red lights on. 

5. Light exposure provides the brain with information and follows the sunrise and sunset in a natural light pattern guiding your circadian rhythm. You’ll end up in a vicious cycle when it is off from the red light exposure and end up napping during the day because you won’t sleep well at night. 

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Having Red Lights On At Night: 

With therapeutic benefits at the cellular level, red light is used in low-level laser therapy, also known as Red Light therapy. They deliver low-level red and near-infrared wavelengths of light that breach the skin using LED bulbs. Similar to photosynthesis in plants, our bodies react to this type of light by producing more energy in the cells. But if you want to sleep well, please be informed that red light is not a good replacement. 

To answer more of your questions, let’s have a look at the various advantages and disadvantages of having the red lights on at night.

Advantages:	Disadvantages:
the red light encourages cell repair Allowing the body to restore normal functioning. This can minimize or slow down the inflammatory immune response thereby, decreasing inflammation.	For people who are extremely sensitive to light, phototherapy may not be suitable for them.
It increases circulation for improved oxygen nutrient distribution to the skin by stimulating new capillaries. Some of the chronic skin conditions that can be managed include acne, psoriasis, accelerated skin aging from sun damage and wrinkles, eczema, and rosacea.	It has unknown long-term effects on the body though it may appear safe for short-term use.
The red lights help prevent loss of bones due to osteoporosis and other generative bone diseases, therefore, regulating the growth of bones through LLLT.	It should not be considered as a cure to any condition, despite providing relief when used regularly.
Helps in stimulating, healing, regenerating connective tissue and damaged muscle, and speeding the recovery of muscles. To precondition the muscles, athletes can also use the red light before exercise.	Expensive over time as it is not covered by insurance if you are getting treatment from a dermatologist.
Encourages metabolism in hair follicles and enhances the growth of hair by increasing blood flow in the scalp.	To maintain the desired results, you must be committed to the ongoing treatments regardless of the relief from symptoms within one to three months.
Stabilizes dying neurons or nerve cells in the brain as an effective therapy and treats generative brain disorders like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease.	There are currently no prescribed guidelines for using the red light. To manage specific conditions as individual sensitivity, duration of treatment, and the frequency may vary with different people.
Promotes healing and hasten recovery from degenerative joint diseases, reducing pain and increasing the range of motion in joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.	To achieve the utmost benefits of the therapy, most of the red light devices do not deliver the required light intensity since their quality greatly varies.

Conclusion:

Any type of light can be disruptive at night, especially if it is shining into your face and also too bright. Your circadian rhythm is likely to be disturbed by some light than others. During the day, blue light is better, and you’ll feel more alert when you wake up; but it makes it harder to fall and stay asleep at night. To avoid the negative effects of the red light at night, consider the following points; 

1. Choose a light that emits yellow light or orange if you must have a nightlight. 

2. Use night mode on electronics that shine in your bedroom, power down, or even remove them. 

3. Use a sleep mask or install blackout curtains, if possible, to block the red light from your bedroom or your sight if you wake up at night.

Hope all the information provided in this article has been informative enough to answer all your questions. For better sleep all through the night, be sure to avoid the red light at night and stick to your sleeping pattern for better physical and mental health. You can also speak with your doctor to get professional assistance if your sleep issues from the red light persist. Stay safe!