The history of red light therapy can be traced back to the early 20th century, when the Danish physician Niels Finsen developed a method to treat skin tuberculosis using concentrated light radiation.
Today, red light therapy is recognized as a promising and versatile therapeutic approach with numerous potential health benefits, and there’s a growing body of evidence supporting its efficacy and safety across various medical disciplines.
Unfortunately, as a result of this growing popularity, the market has become flooded with medicore (or downright useless) red light devices. My goal with this article is to give you the necessary information to choose a high-quality red light device that has the ability to deliver the specific health benefit you’re after.
In general, you should look for a red light device that emits light in the proper wavelengths, strength and dosage.
For example, if you’re trying to treat issues associated with your joints or deep muscle tissue, you need a red light device with high-emissivity lasers or LEDs that emit a fairly narrow light cone to ensure deep tissue penetration. On the other hand, if you’re trying to treat skin issues, a high-quality red light panel or a skincare wand might be your best bet.
I’ve been using a wide variety of red light devices over the past few years to treat stubborn joint injuries, speed up muscle recovery after intense workouts, positively influence my circadian rhythm, and improve my skin health. As a result, much of what I share in this article is based on both scientific evidence as well as several years of hands-on experience.
When assessing the factors associated with choosing a red light device, I encourage you to ask yourself the following questions:
Based on my hands-on experience with a variety of red light devices, including those my wife and I use regularly, here are the top factors you should take into account before pulling the trigger.
Most of the red light devices I own actually use a combination of red light and near-infrared light for optimal performance.
That’s because each wavelength transports a certain amount of energy into the target tissue at varying depths. For example, red light has a shorter wavelength than near-infrared light, thus transporting more energy but offering less penetration. Combining red and near-infrared light ensures that the cells at various tissue depths receive enough energy from photons to cause downstream effects, such as improved mitochondria function and increased blood flow.
The notable exception is skincare devices (i.e., those aimed at reducing fine lines and wrinkles), which often only emit red light. For example, my wife has been using Solawave, a skincare wand that uses red light-emitting LEDs, to improve the appearance of her skin.
But if your goal is to speed up the healing process after an injury, to treat an inflammatory condition such as arthritis, or to support the regrowth of cartilage tissue, you need a device that emits red and near-infrared light in the appropriate wavelengths and the proper intensity.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that most of the red light devices on the market leverage light-emitting diodes (LEDs) because they’re fairly cheap to manufacture and provide enough power (wattage) to be effective. The potential issue with LEDs is that they also emit a fairly wide cone of light, which can reduce their effectiveness when treating tissue several centimeters below the skin (e.g., larger muscle groups or joints).
That’s why many devices used in the medical field, and a few consumer-grade devices (such as the Kineon Move+ Pro), use a combination of lasers and LEDs.
Lasers emit a relatively narrow light cone, which helps with sending light (photons) at the proper dosage deeper into the target tissue. That’s why I exclusively rely on the Move+ Pro for treating exercise-induced injuries that require deep tissue penetration to speed up the healing process.
However, I might use LED-based devices for general wellness applications, including skin care or sleep optimization.
For example, I use a high-quality red light panel from Mito in the morning to support my circadian rhythm and to make my skin more resilient to UV light. In the evening, I might use a red light mask from Sun Home Saunas to support optimal skin health. And when I have a tight lower back from lifting heavy weights or shoveling dirt in the backyard, I might use a red light therapy belt from Mito.
Each wavelength of both the visible and invisible light spectrum carries a certain amount of energy, which determines how the cells in your body react to it.
As a rule of thumb, shorter wavelengths carry more energy but penetrate tissue less deeply, while longer wavelengths carry less energy but better penetrate tissue at greater depths.
That’s why it’s important to pick a device that emits the proper wavelengths based on the desired health benefits and the type of tissue you’re trying to treat.
For example, using a device that emits only wavelengths in the red light spectrum won’t be effective for treating joints or deep muscle issues because it doesn’t penetrate deep enough.
The other factor to consider is that not all cells in the body have the same photoreceptors. In other words, the cells in your skin may respond differently to certain wavelengths than those in your muscle or joint tissue.
Fortunately, scientists have been experimenting with red and near-infrared light for decades, resulting in a comprehensive database of how specific wavelengths benefit certain use cases.
The only problem is that there doesn’t appear to be a single wavelength that works best for all use cases, which is why most manufacturers of red light devices use LEDs that emit a combination of wavelengths.
For reference, these are the most effective wavelengths for common treatment areas:
I recommend looking for red light devices that emit light in some of the wavelengths listed above.
One of the most important factors that determines the effectiveness of any red light device is how much of the emitted light (in the form of photons) reaches the target tissue.
In the realm of infrared light, the term “emissivity” is often used to describe how effectively the device’s LEDs can emit thermal radiation. In the realm of red light, the term “irradiance” is typically used to describe how much of the emitted energy is received by the surface of the skin.
Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish with your red light device (i.e., what tissue you want to treat), your device must feature an appropriate irradiance expressed in milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm²). This is also known as optical power density.
Note that most manufacturers (except infrared sauna brands) only publish irradiance statistics, because that’s what ultimately matters. If you can guarantee that a certain amount of light is hitting the target skin, it doesn’t matter how good the heaters are at emitting light; the latter influences the former, but there is no need to keep track of both since only the end result is important. Hence, you won’t typically see an emissivity figure on a red light device’s documentation.
Here are some examples of effective devices we use at the Kummer household and their optical power density (irradiance) ratings (the links below point to my review of each device):
As you can see, you don’t need high irradiance to improve the health and appearance of your skin. However, the deeper you need the red and infrared light to penetrate your tissue, the more light intensity is required.
Another important factor when talking about light intensity is the difference between pulsed light versus continuous light.
High-end devices, such as the Move+ Pro, use pulsed light to output higher energy levels without causing tissue damage. Devices that leverage continuous light have to operate at lower energy levels. And while that’s fine for treating skin issues, that lower-intensity light isn’t strong enough to penetrate joints or muscle tissue at effective depths.
Conversely, pulsed light devices are also effective for treating skin issues. So, if you have multiple use cases, I recommend getting a pulsed light device, such as the Move+ Pro.
And yes, the number of LEDs a device has plays a role in the total wattage. However, it doesn’t impact the milliwattage per square centimeter, which is the metric that matters most when determining optical power density.
Distance is a crucial factor for determining effective light dosing because it influences how much energy the target tissue receives. For example, a red light device that delivers light in an effective dosage when in close contact with the skin (the target tissue) might be 100% ineffective when held five inches away from the skin.
Because of this, you want to look for red light devices that emit the right wavelengths at the right light intensity to achieve the desired results while making it feasible to maintain a consistent distance between the light source and the target tissue.
That’s why I prefer wearable devices over red light panels when treating injuries or pain. Using a wearable, I can maintain the appropriate distance between the light source and the target tissue (e.g., my lower back).
In fact, red light devices are typically most effective when they’re in direct contact with your skin. For example, placing the Kineon Move+ Pro a few inches away from an injured joint would render the device ineffective.
That’s one of the reasons why it’s difficult to get the dosing right with red light therapy panels, unless you lie down and leverage a horizontal stand to position the panel right above your skin.
Some of the devices listed above — including the Kineon Move+ Pro, the Radiant Face Mask from Sun Home Saunas, and the Solawave — meet all those requirements. In contrast, Mito’s red light panels put the burden of maintaining a consistent distance to its LEDs on you, especially if you want to use the panels for treating tissue below the surface of the skin.
In addition to the effectiveness of a particular device for treating a specific area, you also need to consider the practicality.
For example, you wouldn’t want to use Solawave for whole-body skincare treatments despite the device’s effectiveness in treating skin issues, because each whole-body session would take you several hours. In other words, the surface area emitting the red light is simply too small for treating larger areas.
As a rule of thumb, the larger the treatment area is, the more I lean towards using red light devices with a large emission area. For example, if my whole body aches after an intense workout, I jump into our full-spectrum infrared sauna with red light instead of using wearables.
For back pain, I might use a red light belt or a red light panel (while maintaining a close distance to the light source). If I’m suffering from knee pain or a strained muscle, I use a specialized wearable such as the Kineon Move+ Pro.
Of course, I always aim to use a device that has been proven to be effective for treating a certain area. In other words, I don’t recommend relying on a regular red light panel to treat worn-out cartilage tissue in your knee joints, because the light won’t be able to penetrate your knee capsule. Instead, you have to work with a high-quality wearable with the right dosing protocol for such cases.
Here are some examples of devices I use for a variety of use cases:
As you can see, no device works great for every use case, but some devices can handle multiple treatment areas.
Red light therapy is most effective when leveraged consistently over the course of several weeks or months, depending on the underlying condition you’re treating. That’s why it’s important to choose a device that’s easy to use and that doesn’t get in your way or disrupt your daily routine.
If using a red light device feels inconvenient, you will probably stop using it before you can reap its benefits.
That’s why I prefer devices that I can use passively (like a wearable I can use while working on my computer or watching TV), or which require minimal time investment.
For example, when I get into my office in the morning, I take off my shirt and expose my upper body to red light using a red light panel from Mito without having to stop or disrupt my work.
The same principle applies to the Kineon Move+ Pro that my wife and I use for treating injuries and bee stings (we’re beekeepers and get stung several times a year), and speeding up muscle recovery after intense workouts. Thanks to its flexible straps, we can wear the Move+ Pro while having dinner, watching TV or working on the computer.
Conversely, there are some red light devices on the market that require a more proactive treatment approach. For example, the Solio Alfa+ is incredibly effective for treating muscle pain, but it requires you or someone else to rub the device in circles over the affected area for up to 20 minutes. While that’s not a big deal if you suffer from a severe injury, it’s an inconvenience that might lead some users to abandon the treatment after a couple of days.
The bottom line is that the easier a red light device is to use, the more likely you’ll be to stick with the recommended treatment protocol. That’s especially true for complex injuries that may take several months to treat.
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While I recommend spending your money on devices that emit high-quality light in the proper wavelengths and intensity, some offer additional features that are nice to have.
For example, the Kineon Move+ Pro has a travel pouch that doubles as a charging station. In other words, you can charge the individual light modules of the Move+ Pro without having to take the device out of its case.
That’s not only convenient when you take the Move+ Pro on the road with you, but it also reduces countertop clutter when you charge the device at home.
Another example of a nice-to-have feature is the ability of the Sun Home Saunas Radiant Face Mask to emit blue light to treat blemishes and fight against acne-causing bacteria. I’m a proponent of fixing inflammatory skin conditions with the proper dietary changes, but having blue light to support the healing process is a plus.
I recommend spending extra money on additional features only if you think they’ll help you use the red light device more consistently. Otherwise, don’t get too hung up on them.
Before I commit to spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on a new gadget, I always research the brand I’ll be buying from. Many manufacturers of red light devices (especially those sold on Amazon) have no expertise with red light therapy. Instead, they simply resell or white-label devices manufactured in China, because they’ve realized how big the red light device market is.
I prefer purchasing from brands that focus on red light therapy and have the necessary expertise and desire to manufacture effective products (that they use themselves).
For example, I know the owners of most of the brands I work with, and I have a reasonable understanding of how they operate. We’re good friends with Forrest Smith, who co-founded Kineon, and I know how much passion and resources go into making the Move+ Pro one of the most effective red light devices on the market.
While you might not be able to befriend the creators of your chosen red light device, I encourage you to investigate their story, reach out to ask questions, and read reviews from other customers.
If I don’t know the brand I’d like to purchase from, I often google for terms like “[brand] scam” to see if there have been any reports of other customers who got scammed or taken advantage of.
Unfortunately, the market is flooded with ineffective red light devices. Here are some of the red flags you should look out for before pulling the trigger:
Additionally, make sure your device comes with a limited money-back guarantee so you can test its effectiveness. While some treatments may take several weeks or months (longer than the return window most manufacturers offer), you should be able to get a good feel for whether the device is right for you within the first 30 days.
Red light therapy has become a ubiquitous treatment modality for various health concerns ranging from improving mental health, facilitating hair growth, treating joint pain, speeding up recovery after intense workouts and treating cosmetic skin issues. It’s even been shown to positively influence athletic performance.
As a result, the market for red light devices has exploded over the past few years. Unfortunately, I’ve seen many cheap and ineffective devices being promoted online. That’s why it’s important to understand what factors influence the effectiveness of red light devices for various use cases, including dosing, wavelengths and light intensity.
I hope by reading this article, you’ve equipped yourself with the necessary knowledge to make the right purchasing decision. However, if you have any questions about a device you’re interested in or would like to get my take on it, leave me a comment below.
Packed with 72 LEDs, this wand offers a surprising amount of coverage and emits four different wavelengths of red light. It’s easy to operate, but it needs to be plugged in.
At first blush, the LightStim for Wrinkles seems devoid of bells and whistles. But it dazzles where it truly matters: in the jam-packedness of its 72 LEDs, its handiness, and its foolproof one-button operating system. Like all wands, though, it requires you to actively engage with it, and it’s not cordless.
For a handheld device, it’s loaded with LEDs. If you’re going to put in the time and effort to manually move a wand around, it should cover a good portion of your face. And the LightStim does just that, with 72 LEDs packed into a circle that’s just a skosh under 5 square inches. In comparison, the Lifepro Lumicure has three LEDs in a 0.78-square-inch circle, and while the Solawave 4-in-1’s little 0.75-square-inch wand head has 14 (seven dual) LEDs, it requires significantly more elbow grease to equally treat the same amount of skin. Some testers liked that they could simply press the LightStim’s large head against their faces until the three-minute timer signaled that they could move it to a different location.
This wand emits four different wavelengths of red light. The wavelength is what determines light’s color, and these LEDs are amber (605-nanometer wavelength), light red (630 nm), deep red (680 nm), and near infrared (855 nm). The varying wavelengths spark different reactions at various levels of the skin: Amber, red, and infrared penetrate to reduce oil and inflammation, as well as to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which make skin look plumper and firmer and minimize the appearance of fine lines. (Since infrared is invisible, the 865 nm LEDs might not appear lit, even when the power is on.) The Solawave 4-in-1, meanwhile, emits a single wavelength, 630 nm. One tester loved the LightStim’s range of reds, especially for treating nasolabial folds and other lines around her mouth.
The simple design makes it beyond easy to use, and silent. The LightStim is on or off — and that’s all there is to it. Every three minutes, a quick tone indicates that it’s time for you to move it to a different part of your face or body (unlike most of the devices we tested, this wand has no automatic shutoff). Whereas the Solawave 4-in-1 buzzes and lightly vibrates, the LightStim is dead quiet and inert in the palm, with one tester likening it in vibes and looks to an old-timey candlestick . Testers also appreciated that the wand’s single button required zero practice or guesswork. You also operate the Therabody TheraFace and Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Spectralite via on-device push buttons, but those models, both of which are masks, require cycling through many presses to change modes, and while the mask is attached to your face, it’s hard to tell which color mode you’re in.
You can use it on other body parts. Signs of aging aren’t limited to the face, and our testers liked using the LightStim on their necks, décolletages, and even scars, as well. Sure, our flexible mask pick, the Omnilux Men, can also be placed on or wrapped around body parts other than the face, but the LightStim was the easiest device to use in this regard.
The LightStim can drag a bit against skin unless you use it with a serum. But this was true of all the wands we tried. For our testers, pressing the wand head against the skin and holding it there for a bit was more comfortable.
It needs to be plugged in. Of the 11 devices we tested, the LightStim is the only one that has a cord. For something you use for about 12 minutes at a time, staying within 6 feet of an outlet isn’t such a big deal, and the wand will never conk out mid-treatment (as the rechargeable Solawave 4-in-1 did a few times in our tests). Complicating matters, though, is the fact that the AC/DC adapter detaches from the wand — increasing its chances of being misplaced.
The plastic housing feels a bit cheap. Especially when you consider the wand’s $250 price tag.
LEDs: 72
Wavelengths: 605 nm, 630 nm, 660 nm, 865 nm
Irradiance: 65 mW/cm2
Treatment time: three minutes per area (no automatic shutoff)
Charging: none; powered by AC/DC adapter
Return policy: 30 days when bought from LightStim
Warranty: five years
This comfortable mask multistasks, with LED treatments for both aging and acne-prone skin, plus cold panels for under-eye puffiness. It lacks under-eye LEDs as a result.
The Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask has a fan base among our group of testers, who loved virtually everything about the experience — from how comfortably the mask fit to how simple the remote control was to how well the cool, de-puffing under-eye pads worked. With 480 (160 tri-wick) LEDs, this mask offers a few different programs: an anti-aging option, an anti-inflammatory acne treatment, a maintenance setting, and a cooling-only protocol.
Everyone gets a perfect fit. The CryoGlow has two straps — a wide stretchy band that spans from ear to ear, and an overhead band with a hook-and-loop fastener — that adjust for a custom fit. A few other masks (like those from Higher Dose and Therabody) took some doing on our part to just stay on testers’ faces, and they didn’t feel nearly as tailored. Even better, though, are the CryoGlow’s plush and pliant silicone pads around the eyes, which rest gently on the skin and shield your vision from the bright lights. No other mask we tried had such ample eye protection.
Lots of LEDs amp up the power in multiple modes. Dotting the inside of the mask are 160 LEDs — and each one is a “tri-wick,” which means it contains a blue, red, and infrared diode, for a total of 480 lights. The six-minute anti-aging program activates the (630 nm) red and (830 nm) near-infrared lights, and the eight-minute acne treatment cycles through near-infrared, blue (415 nm), and red. The four-minute maintenance mode is meant to be a daily treatment that mixes all three wavelengths. What’s more, the CryoGlow delivers a lot of energy to the skin: The red lights have an irradiance of 73 mW/cm2, on the high side of what the dermatologists we spoke with recommended (and just as powerful as the lights of the Therabody TheraFace, which costs several hundred dollars more). One tester noticed that the lines around her mouth looked less pronounced within a month of use; she also sometimes “double-dipped” and went for just the under-eye cooling chill-out.
The remote control is intuitive and clear, and it keeps track of your sessions. The remote has buttons for toggling between mode options and fine-tuning the temperature of the cooling pads, as well as a screen showing a large-font countdown clock for the treatment time. It also logs how many total sessions you’ve done. It’s unique among the LED devices we tested. Granted, all that tech requires room: The remote is about the size of a hot dog bun, and it attaches to the mask with a yard-long cord. Both the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Spectralite and the Therabody TheraFace, the two other rigid masks we tested, are cordless and remote-free, and testers could wear them and walk about entirely unencumbered. Even so, they still far preferred the CryoGlow and its interface, which even lets you pause mid-treatment without resetting the clock.
Cooling eye pads set it apart. This mask takes the old spoons-in-the-freezer trick to an Olympic level: During the LED treatment, you can set the metal pads, each about the size of a thumbprint, at any of three levels of frosty coldness, or off completely. Alternatively, you can deploy just the chilling pads — no LEDs — for a five-, 10-, or 15-minute session. Some testers said they would have preferred to have LEDs in those spots instead; the Omnilux Men, our pick for a flexible mask, even has 1,072 nm infrared LEDs around the eyes, intended to treat crow’s-feet.
It’s a comparative bargain. In features and user-friendliness, the $350 CryoGlow far outranked the two other rigid masks we tested — but it costs $100 less than the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Spectralite and $300 less than the Therabody TheraFace.
It’s noisy. The CryoGlow has an internal fan that whirs when the eye-cooling pads are on. One tester was surprised by how loud it was, though ultimately she considered it white noise.
Its clunkiness gets in the way of portability. The mask is recommended for daily use, but with dimensions that are about 9.5 inches high by 7.5 inches wide by 5 inches deep, it consumes a notable amount of space in a suitcase or carry-on.
To charge, you have to plug in the entire mask. Several other devices we evaluated had detachable remotes that juiced up easily and discretely. Shark does offer a charging stand bundled with the mask, or sold separately for $70 more.
LEDs: 480 (160 tri-wick)
Wavelengths: 415 nm, 630 nm, 830 nm
Irradiance: 73 mW/cm2 for red light
Treatment time: six-, eight-, and four-minute LED treatments; five-, 10-, and 15-minute cooling treatments (automatic shutoff)
Charging: USB-C is included; entire mask needs charging
Return policy: 60 days
Warranty: two years
Don’t let the name mislead you: Anyone can use this mask with deep-reaching 1,072 nm wavelengths, and not just on the face. Getting a good fit on your face takes a little practice, though.
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Dermatologists we spoke with name-checked Omnilux again and again (the company also makes devices for in-office use). Our testers loved using both the Omnilux Men and the OG Omnilux Contour Face: They’re the same size and shape, and each one has 132 (66 double) LEDs. Whereas the Contour Face provides just 633 nm red and 830 nm near-infrared light, the Men version adds 1,072 nm near-infrared light, which penetrates more deeply (intended for male skin, which tends to be thicker). We appreciated its flat-packability and flexibility, though the straps don’t provide the best fit of the models we tried.
Near-infrared light at 1,072 nm achieves the deepest penetration into skin. Only two masks we tested had near-infrared rays at such a high wavelength — the Omnilux Men and the Current Body 2. The 1,072 nm light can reach deeper below the epidermis, making it well suited for men’s skin, which can be a bit thicker than women’s, though this wavelength is also fine for women’s skin. This mask emits 633 nm and 830 nm red light, as well. The 1,072 nm light is directed where signs of aging are especially noticeable: on the forehead, at crow’s-feet, and at the nasolabial folds.
This mask pinch-hits for use beyond your face. The Omnilux Men is just a touch bigger than a piece of printer paper, and nearly as flat and flexible. Testers flexed it under their chins to get their necks and laid it flat on their chests to treat crepiness there. In contrast, although we loved the ample coverage and curved shape of the Current Body 2 — it was the only soft mask we tested that had LEDs angled under the chin — what makes that mask so comfortable for contouring around the face limits its utility elsewhere on the body, as it doesn’t lie flat for easy use on the chest. Some companies sell specialized add-ons for the neck or chest or eye area — almost like build-your-own LED armor — but you can truly get away with using a flexible mask.
It’s easy to pack. Whereas the Shark CryoGlow is bulky and rigid, the Omnilux Men is thin and pliable and takes up little space in a suitcase. When slid flat into its cloth carrying sack, the mask and its controller occupied less room than a folded T-shirt in one tester’s weekend bag.
It’s the most expensive of our picks. Although this mask is priced just under $400, it doesn’t look like much and doesn’t come with much: Most of the other masks we tested came with either protective eye shields or goggles, but the Omnilux Men did not.
The fit is just okay, not great. The Omnilux Men has just two nominally stretchy straps for use across the back of the head, and it can feel a little loose along the chin. The Current Body mask, in contrast, has wide, comfortable neoprene straps, and the Higher Dose and Solawave masks we tested have both back straps and overhead straps for a stay-put fit.
LEDs: 132 (66 dual)
Wavelengths: 633 nm, 830 nm, 1,072 nm
Irradiance: 35 mW/cm2
Treatment time: 10 minutes (automatic shutoff)
Charging: USB-C included
Return policy: 30 days
Warranty: two years
Skin is a wondrous thing. So is LED light. And the two work great together. Specific wavelengths of blue, red, and near-infrared light have been shown to penetrate skin at varying depths to trigger specific reactions: LED light at a wavelength of 415 nm appears blue and reaches into the epidermis, or outer layer of skin, to kill acne-causing bacteria. Red light in the range of 630 nm to 650 nm and near-infrared light in the range of 800 nm to 1,200 nm (or so) penetrates into subcutaneous tissue to reduce oil and inflammation, as well as to stimulate collagen and elastin production, which makes skin look plumper and firmer and minimizes the appearance of fine lines.
Many dermatologists offer in-office light therapy to treat conditions such as acne, rosacea, and signs of aging. Such in-office treatments employ the same wavelengths of light, but the devices or panels are generally more effective than those sold for home use, and treatment time tends to be longer. For the models we tried, the instructions generally suggest using the device for about 10 minutes several times a week. Dermatologists we spoke with also pointed out that home devices can be used in between office sessions.
As several dermatologists also noted, plenty of excellent topical options are available for treating acne at home, which is why we didn’t consider dedicated blue-light devices (but did keep devices that mix blue and red light in the running for our picks). What’s more, blue light alone may cause hyperpigmentation.
As everyone’s grade-school buddy Roy G. Biv would remind you, red and infrared light is literally at the opposite end of the spectrum from the light of a tanning coffin bed, which emits ultraviolet rays. Red light doesn’t burn or age your skin the way UV rays do. A red-light device might feel warm on the skin but shouldn’t feel hot. (If it does, stop using it.)
Notably, though, not everyone should use an LED device — always check with a doctor before trying it. Sit out light therapy if you have lupus or melasma. If you have darker skin, check with a dermatologist. Skip at-home LED devices if you’re on medication that increases skin’s sensitivity to light, or your eyes are sensitive to bright light (even testers who aren’t light-sensitive experienced ripping headaches after trying some masks). In any event, always check in with a doctor before trying LED therapy, and carefully read the contraindications for any device you consider purchasing.
For this guide, I interviewed six dermatologists who use laser and red-light devices in their offices and are familiar with the options for home use. I pored over academic studies that explored the effectiveness of red-light therapy and suggested ideal strengths and parameters for effective devices. For real-world insights, I consulted with dozens of colleagues to find out which red-light masks and wands have delivered the best results — often over the course of several years — in their varied skin-care routines. I also dove into online reviews, seeking devices that maintained high star ratings over hundreds (or even thousands) of reviews.
Photobiomodulation — the fancy term for light treatment — was initially developed for NASA and cleared by the FDA more than 20 years ago. The FDA generally doesn’t approve at-home LED devices, though, so I prioritized FDA-cleared masks and wands (meaning the agency had already deemed a similar technology safe) that had a 510(k) Premarket Notification on file in which the device’s maker disclosed all of the specifications.
I also sought out devices with well-studied and effective wavelengths for visible red light (at least 630 nm) and near-infrared light (at least 830 nm). For masks that mixed blue light with red light, the sweet spot for blue was 415 nm. I also confirmed that each device had an irradiance (power over an area, measured in milliwatts over square centimeters) recommended by the dermatologists I interviewed: Soft masks had at least 30 mW/cm2, hard masks had at least 50 mW/cm2, and wands had at least 49.5 mW/cm2.
The dermatologists I spoke with also stressed the importance of dealing with companies that stand by their products. “You want to buy from a company that won’t just say ‘buy another one’ if things go wrong,” said Glynis Ablon, MD, a dermatologist in Manhattan Beach, California. Amazon offers dozens upon dozens of masks and wands at seemingly too-good-to-be-true prices, but we avoided such dupes.
When I was researching and writing, I set a price cap of $600 (some prices have since climbed). I was also definitely impressed and tempted by arc lights, such as those from Celluma and LightStim, as well as the panels by Joovv and MitoPro, but for the purposes of this guide I focused only on self-care/skin-care masks and wands. As a few dermatologists pointed out, a soft mask can be wrapped or placed against other parts of your body too, not just your face. (My elbow has a fresh pirate-style scar from about three dozen surgical staples, and as I’ve treated it with several soft masks and wands, it has become less gnarly, though I can’t say for sure whether it wouldn’t have healed as well on its own.)
Ultimately, I tested 11 devices over the course of a month, and I passed six of them along to a group of four additional testers. We judged each model based on the following criteria:
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Red Light Therapy Panel Manufacturer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.