Red Light Therapy: Protecting Skin, Muscle, and Hair
My Weight-Loss Wellness Journey
How I Supported My Hair, Skin and Strength While Losing 70 Pounds
A personal look at the habits, products and routines that became part of my wellness journey during 18 months of GLP-1-assisted weight loss.
Hi friend 💕 I always want to be transparent—some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to shop through them at no additional cost to you. I only share products I truly stand behind. Some content may also include AI-assisted elements to help create a better experience for you.
Losing 70 pounds changed my life, but I quickly realized that the number on the scale was only one part of the transformation.
Over the last 18 months, while taking Mounjaro under medical care, I have become much more intentional about preserving my strength, supporting my nutrition and taking care of my skin and hair. Weight loss can affect the body in ways that are not always visible at first, especially when food intake changes or weight comes off quickly.
My goal was never to simply become smaller. I wanted to feel strong, protect my long-term health and build routines I could continue after the active weight-loss phase was over.
This article reflects my personal experience. I cannot say that one product or habit caused a specific result, but together these choices became the system that helped me feel supported while my body changed.
The Bigger Picture
How My Routine Evolved During Weight Loss
I did not build this routine all at once. Each step was added as I learned more about what my body needed.
It Was Never Just About the Scale
I Wanted to Protect the Body I Was Working So Hard to Change
Weight loss can feel incredibly exciting, especially when you begin seeing progress after struggling for a long time. At the same time, it can bring new concerns that are rarely discussed in the beginning.
I started thinking about whether I was eating enough protein, whether I was maintaining muscle and how rapid changes might affect my hair and skin. I knew I could not control every part of the process, but I could make thoughtful choices that supported my body instead of focusing only on losing weight as quickly as possible.
I did not want to simply lose weight. I wanted to stay strong, support my nutrition and feel confident in the body I was creating.
Supporting My Hair from the Inside Out
Hair Shedding Made Me Take Nutrition More Seriously
Eating less meant I needed to be much more intentional about the quality of the nutrition I was still getting.
About two years ago, I began noticing significant thinning. Once I started looking more closely at my diet and health, I realized there were several areas where my nutrition could be improved.
When I later began eating less on a GLP-1 medication, that concern became even more important. Reduced appetite can make it harder to consistently consume enough protein, vitamins and minerals, so I stopped treating nutrition as an afterthought.
I focused on protein, a multivitamin recommended for my needs and collagen as part of my daily routine. I also added Divi hair vitamins and pumpkin seed oil after researching options that people commonly use to support hair wellness.
I cannot say which single change made the biggest difference, and supplements are not a replacement for identifying the cause of hair loss. For me, they became one part of a larger routine that also included medical care, topical treatments and consistent nutrition.
Pumpkin Seed Oil
I added pumpkin seed oil after researching nutritional and hormonal factors that may play a role in hair shedding. I treat it as supportive rather than as a guaranteed hair-growth solution.
Divi Hair Vitamins
I added Divi to make my hair routine feel more intentional while I worked on my overall nutrition. I use it consistently, but I still view it as only one piece of a much larger hair-health plan.
Hair loss can have many causes, including nutritional deficiencies, thyroid conditions, hormonal changes, illness, stress and medication. Supplements can interact with medications or may be unnecessary when nutrient levels are already adequate. A healthcare professional can help identify possible causes and determine whether testing is needed.
Strength Matters
Protecting Muscle While the Scale Was Going Down
I did not want my weight-loss routine to revolve around eating less and doing endless cardio. I wanted movement that helped me feel capable and strong.
Weight loss can include both fat and lean tissue. That made muscle preservation one of the most important parts of my routine. Muscle supports daily function, strength and long-term metabolic health, and it also gives the body structure as weight changes.
Walking became the foundation of my movement. I walk approximately five miles each day, which usually brings me close to 10,000 steps. It is something I can do consistently without feeling that every workout has to be intense.
I also began breaking strength work into shorter sessions throughout the day. Instead of depending on one long workout, I complete several short blocks using squats, lunges, dumbbell exercises, glute bridges, push-ups and core movements.
The shorter format made strength training feel much more realistic for me. It removed the all-or-nothing feeling and allowed me to build consistency even on busy days.
I do not expect myself to complete every workout perfectly. My goal is to keep returning to the routine. A shorter strength session I actually complete is more useful to me than a perfect plan I cannot maintain.
Supporting My Skin During Change
Why Collagen Became Part of My Daily Routine
I knew I could not completely control how my skin responded to weight loss, but I still wanted to support my overall nutrition and skin-care routine.
As the scale moved downward, skin elasticity naturally became one of my concerns. I began with the basics: consistent moisturizing, hydration, adequate protein and giving my body time to adjust.
I added collagen because I wanted another convenient source of protein and amino acids in my routine. I have now used it consistently for more than a year.
I do not view collagen as a treatment that can prevent loose skin or reverse every change caused by weight loss. Genetics, age, total weight lost, rate of loss and many other factors influence how skin responds. For me, collagen simply became one supportive part of the larger routine.
The Tool That Surprised Me Most
How Red Light Therapy Fits into My Routine
I chose a panel because I wanted one device I could use across several areas rather than something designed only for the scalp.
Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of visible red and near-infrared light. It is being studied for several possible uses, including skin appearance, wound healing, inflammation and certain types of hair loss.
I chose a panel instead of a helmet because versatility mattered more to me than having a scalp-only device. I wanted to be able to position it near my face, neck, hairline and different areas of my body.
I currently use my panel for approximately twenty minutes as part of my daily routine. Over time, I personally noticed brighter-looking skin, improved texture and visible short hairs around my hairline.
Those observations are personal and do not prove that the panel caused the changes. I was also using topical treatments, supplements and improving my nutrition at the same time, so I cannot isolate the effect of one part of the routine.
Why I Chose a Panel
I wanted one device that could be repositioned for my face, hairline, neck and body.
What I Personally Noticed
My skin began looking brighter, and I noticed small hairs appearing around areas that had looked thinner.
What I Keep in Perspective
My results may also reflect the combined effect of nutrition, minoxidil, scalp care and time.
Follow the manufacturer's distance, timing and eye-protection instructions. People with light-sensitive conditions or those taking photosensitizing medications should speak with a healthcare professional before using a red light device.
Consistency over Perfection
My Morning and Evening Hair Routine
The biggest difference in my hair routine was not finding one magical product. It was building a system I could repeat consistently for months.
My Morning Routine
- Apply Keranique Minoxidil as directed.
- Take the supplements included in my personal plan.
- Prioritize protein and hydration early in the day.
- Use red light therapy according to my routine.
Minoxidil is the most treatment-focused part of my routine. After several months of consistency, I noticed small hairs appearing through my scalp and around my hairline.
My Evening Routine
- Apply Keranique Growth Activator to targeted areas.
- Use gentle scalp massage without scratching the skin.
- Stay consistent rather than changing products constantly.
- Give the routine time before deciding whether it is helping.
I am currently in what I call the awkward regrowth stage. The new hairs are different lengths, but seeing my scalp gradually look fuller has made the patience worthwhile.
Minoxidil is not appropriate for everyone and should be used only as directed. It can cause side effects and may not be suitable during pregnancy, breastfeeding or with certain health conditions. Hair shedding may also temporarily increase when starting treatment. Discuss questions or unexpected symptoms with a healthcare professional.
“Losing weight changed how I looked, but building supportive routines changed how I felt.”
My Routine in Practice
The Daily Habits I Keep Returning To
I do not complete every part of this routine perfectly every day. These are simply the habits that help keep me grounded and consistent.
Seventy Pounds Later
What This Journey Has Taught Me
Weight loss takes more than willpower. For me, it required planning, patience and the willingness to pay attention to what my body needed beyond simply eating less.
Looking back, I am glad I spent just as much time thinking about preserving my strength and supporting my health as I did watching the number on the scale. Those are the habits I plan to carry with me long after the active weight-loss phase is over.
Health and Affiliate Disclosure
This article shares my personal experience and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat or prevent any medical condition.
Mounjaro and other GLP-1 medications are prescription treatments that require medical supervision. Weight loss, hair shedding, muscle changes and skin concerns can have many causes. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional before changing medication, beginning supplements, using minoxidil, starting a new exercise plan or using a red light device.
Product results vary, and my personal observations do not establish that any one product caused a particular result.
This page may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you when you make a qualifying purchase. Some written or visual content may be created with assistance from AI tools.