AGESTAS Insights

Who Uses Red Light Therapy — and Why?

From Olympic athletes and Hollywood celebrities to longevity scientists — why the world's highest performers are turning to photobiomodulation.

If you want to understand why a therapy works, follow the evidence. If you want to understand why it has gone mainstream, follow the people using it. Red light therapy has attracted a remarkable cross-section of high-profile adopters — athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and scientists — each drawn by different needs but arriving at the same conclusion. This article looks at who is using PBM, why they are using it, and what that tells us about where the therapy is heading.

Elite Athletes — Recovery and Performance

Professional sport has some of the most rigorous performance demands on earth. Recovery time is competitive advantage. Anything that accelerates muscle repair, reduces inflammation, and returns an athlete to full training faster is worth serious investment — and PBM delivers on all three fronts.

LeBron James

Basketball · NBA
RecoveryLongevityInflammation

Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, LeBron James is equally well-known for his obsessive approach to physical maintenance. He reportedly spends over $1.5 million per year on his body — and red light therapy is part of that investment. James has integrated full-body light therapy into his recovery routine, crediting his ability to perform at elite level well into his late thirties to his discipline around recovery technology.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Football · Al-Nassr
Muscle RecoveryPerformance Priming

Ronaldo's dedication to physical conditioning is legendary. Beyond his renowned sleep protocols and nutrition discipline, Ronaldo has been linked to the use of cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen, and red light therapy as part of a comprehensive recovery stack. His ability to maintain elite fitness levels well into his late thirties is widely attributed to this level of recovery discipline — and PBM is a consistent part of the conversation.

Michael Phelps

Swimming · 23× Olympic Gold
Competition RecoveryDOMS Reduction

The most decorated Olympian of all time, Phelps was known for pushing the boundaries of recovery technology throughout his career. The physical demands of competitive swimming — multiple events across consecutive days — made recovery innovation essential. PBM was among the tools Phelps reportedly incorporated to maintain performance across the full duration of major competitions.

Tiger Woods

Golf · 15× Major Champion
Tissue RepairPain ManagementRehabilitation

Following multiple back surgeries and knee reconstructions, Tiger Woods made his return to competitive golf one of the most remarkable comebacks in sports history. Red light therapy has been reported among the recovery modalities used to support tissue healing and reduce chronic pain — an application well-supported by the clinical evidence on PBM and musculoskeletal repair.

Novak Djokovic

Tennis · 24× Grand Slam Champion
Recovery OptimisationSleep Support

Djokovic is arguably the most scientifically-minded athlete in professional tennis, known for his intense focus on nutrition, sleep, and recovery optimisation. He has spoken publicly about his use of photobiomodulation as part of his recovery toolkit, particularly for managing the physical demands of a gruelling Grand Slam schedule.

Longevity Scientists & Biohackers — Optimising Ageing

The longevity movement is built on a simple premise: ageing is a biological process, and biological processes can be influenced. PBM fits naturally into this framework — its ability to support mitochondrial function, reduce systemic inflammation, and improve sleep quality addresses several of the core mechanisms associated with biological ageing.

Bryan Johnson

Entrepreneur · Blueprint Protocol
Daily PBM StackBiological Age ReversalMitochondrial Health

Bryan Johnson sold Braintree to PayPal for $800 million, then dedicated significant resources to one goal: reversing his biological age. His Blueprint protocol — one of the most documented longevity programmes in existence — includes full-body PBM as a daily practice. Johnson publishes his biomarkers, protocols, and results openly. His biological age measurements have consistently shown results younger than his chronological age, and his programme has brought PBM into mainstream awareness globally.

David Sinclair

Professor · Harvard Medical School
NAD+ PathwaysMitochondrial Function

Professor David Sinclair of Harvard Medical School is one of the world's leading longevity researchers and author of the bestselling book Lifespan. Sinclair has spoken about the role of light exposure — including red and near-infrared wavelengths — in supporting biological pathways associated with healthy ageing, including NAD+ metabolism and mitochondrial function. His work has helped establish a credible scientific framework for why PBM is of interest to longevity medicine.

Andrew Huberman

Neuroscientist · Stanford University
Morning ProtocolTestosterone SupportSleep & Circadian

Stanford neuroscientist and host of the Huberman Lab podcast — one of the most listened-to science podcasts in the world — Huberman has discussed red light therapy extensively. He has spoken about its applications for mitochondrial health, skin, testosterone support, and sleep regulation, and has incorporated morning red light exposure into his own daily protocol. His reach into health-conscious audiences has significantly broadened public awareness of PBM beyond clinical circles.

Celebrities & Public Figures — Aesthetics and Wellness

Beyond elite sport and longevity science, red light therapy has attracted a significant following among celebrities and entertainers — driven primarily by its skin health and recovery benefits, and by the growing mainstreaming of wellness culture in high-profile circles.

Kim Kardashian

Entrepreneur & Media Personality
Skin RejuvenationAnti-Ageing

Kim Kardashian has publicly shared her use of red light therapy masks and panels for skin health and anti-ageing. Her adoption of PBM has played a significant role in bringing it to consumer attention — and in normalising light-based skincare in mainstream culture.

Kourtney Kardashian

Entrepreneur & Wellness Advocate
Holistic WellnessInflammation Reduction

Among the Kardashian family, Kourtney has been particularly vocal about her commitment to holistic and science-backed health practices. Red light therapy features regularly in her wellness content, with a focus on skin health, inflammation reduction, and recovery.

Jessica Alba

Co-founder · The Honest Company
Science-Backed WellnessSkin Health

Co-founder of The Honest Company and a long-standing advocate for clean, science-supported wellness, Jessica Alba has been publicly associated with red light therapy use for skin health and overall wellbeing. Her influence in the wellness space has helped position PBM alongside other evidence-backed modalities in mainstream health culture.

Victoria Beckham

Fashion Designer & Global Icon
Luxury WellnessAesthetics

Victoria Beckham is known for her rigorous approach to health and aesthetics, and red light therapy has been cited among her skincare and recovery practices. Her global profile has contributed to PBM's growing association with high-end, results-driven wellness.

Jennifer Aniston

Actress & Wellness Advocate
LED SkincareCollagen Support

Jennifer Aniston has spoken about her use of LED light therapy as part of her skincare regime, crediting it with supporting skin health and a youthful complexion. Her openness about the treatments behind her appearance has brought significant attention to PBM in the beauty and wellness media.

Why Are They Using It? — The Common Threads

Despite coming from very different contexts, the people using PBM at the highest levels share a consistent set of motivations.

Recovery Speed

The ability to return to full training or performance faster after physical exertion — central to elite sport, but increasingly valued by high-performing professionals across all fields.

Longevity & Healthy Ageing

Supporting mitochondrial health, reducing chronic inflammation, and maintaining biological youth — the core motivation for the longevity and biohacking community.

Skin Health & Aesthetics

Clinically supported collagen stimulation, reduction in fine lines, and improved skin tone — valued across celebrity and consumer wellness contexts.

Cognitive Performance

Support for focus, mental clarity, and mood — driven by transcranial PBM research and increasingly adopted by knowledge workers and executives.

Pain Management

Non-pharmacological management of chronic or acute pain — particularly relevant for athletes with injury histories and older adults managing musculoskeletal conditions.

Sleep Quality

PBM's effects on circadian rhythm and melatonin regulation have attracted attention from sleep-focused biohackers and wellness practitioners.

Immune Support

Emerging interest in PBM's role in modulating immune function and reducing systemic inflammation — particularly relevant in post-pandemic health culture.

Hair Growth & Scalp Health

Clinically studied for androgenetic alopecia and general hair thinning — PBM stimulates follicle activity and improves scalp circulation, with FDA-cleared devices available for home and professional use.

"The convergence of elite sport, longevity science, and celebrity wellness culture around a single modality is notable. It reflects a broader shift: PBM is no longer a niche clinical tool. It is becoming a mainstream health technology — and the professional environments that offer it are well-positioned for that shift."

What This Means for Professional Environments

The cultural mainstreaming of PBM has a direct commercial implication for clinics, wellness centres, and hospitality businesses. As awareness grows — driven by high-profile endorsers, podcast coverage, and expanding media attention — client demand for professional-grade PBM experiences is increasing.

There is a meaningful gap between consumer devices (masks, small panels) and the full-body professional systems that deliver the outcomes the research and high-profile users describe. That gap is a commercial opportunity for businesses that can offer clinical-grade, full-body PBM in a premium environment.

Clients who have read about Bryan Johnson's protocol, heard Huberman discuss mitochondrial health, or watched a Kardashian demonstrate a light therapy mask are already primed. They are looking for a professional version of the experience — one that delivers real outcomes, not just wellness theatre.

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© AGESTAS. Published for educational purposes. Content does not constitute medical advice. PBM systems intended for professional wellness and recovery use.