Red Light Information

Disclaimer: Usage guidelines on this website are not qualified medical directions for any health disorder.

How long should I use a red-light device?

This is a great question, but the answer is not so simple for a variety of reasons such as:

How powerful is the device?
What distance are you from the LEDs?
What are your treatment goals?
What wavelengths do you want to use?
What is your skin type/colour?
What is your genetic sensitivity?

Short Answer:

As will be shown below an exposure time of between 5 and 10 minutes on a modern LED panel will produce 20 to 40 joules of treatment, which appears more than adequate for most recommended treatment protocols. The closer you position yourself the higher the power you receive, and when further away you may need to increase the session times. You should also adjust based on your own response to treatments.

Long Answer:

With all phototherapy safety should be the #1 consideration so here at Dermfix we think a good starting point is first to guard against the possibility of overdosing on red light therapy. Fortunately, there is some good clinical data (link at the bottom of this article) discussing Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD). The short text conclusion is as follows:

“LED-RL is safe up to 320 J/cm2 for skin of colour and 480 J/cm2 for non-Hispanic Caucasian individuals.”

Joules are a unit of energy, and this can be calculated if we know the output irradiance, time used and distance from the source.

A typical modern LED panel will have an irradiance output something like the following at the centre:

80mW/cm² at 15cm
65mW/cm² at 30cm

Note: Due to the way light travels and crosses, you will always have a stronger output in the centre of a panel and this naturally decreases towards the edges.

At 15cm every minute you use the device would therefore add 4.8 Joules of energy (per square cm2) to your body.
Maths: (60 seconds * 80 mW/cm2 = 4.800 mW/cm2 = 4.8 Joules)

At 30cm every minute you use the device would therefore add 3.9 Joules of energy (per square cm2) to your body.
Maths: (60 seconds * 65 mW/cm2 = 3.900 mW/cm2 = 3.9 Joules)

So, we can also now do some quick calculations for the 15cm closest distance and using the highest output figure at the centre:

320 J/cm2 would be 320 divided by 4.8 = 66 minutes maximum exposure for skin of colour

480 J/cm2 would be 480 divided by 4.8 = 126 minutes maximum of exposure for non-Hispanic Caucasian

These times would increase when further away at say 30cm.

Note: These exposure times above are much greater than recommended for any treatments but we hope should be reassuring for most users in regards to a maximum tolerated dose.

So how many Joules per square centimeter (cm2) should I aim to get?

As a general guide for most treatments something between 5 and 80 Joules per square centimetre (cm2) of your skin seems more than adequate based on clinical trials.

The maths therefore would be:

1 Joule = 1.000 mW/cm2. Divided by 80mW/cm² at 15cm would be 12.5 seconds
5 Joules = 5.000 mW/cm2. Divided by 80mW/cm² at 15cm would be 1m 2 seconds
20 Joules = 20.000 mW/cm2. Divided by 80mW/cm² at 15cm would be 5m 22 seconds
40 Joules = 40.000 mW/cm2. Divided by 80mW/cm² at 15cm would be 8m 20 seconds
80 Joules = 80.000 mW/cm2 . Divided by 80mW/cm² at 15cm would be 16m 40 seconds

Or at a further distance:

1 Joule = 1.000 mW/cm2. Divided by 65mW/cm² at 30cm would be 15 seconds
5 Joules = 5.000 mW/cm2. Divided by 65mW/cm² at 30cm would be 1m 16 seconds
20 Joules = 20.000 mW/cm2. Divided by 65mW/cm² at 30cm would be 5m 7 seconds
40 Joules = 40.000 mW/cm2. Divided by 65mW/cm² at 30cm would be 10m 15 seconds
80 Joules = 80.000 mW/cm2. Divided by 65mW/cm² at 30cm would be 20m 30 secondshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8887049/

How often to use?

This is also a good question but with no 100% clear answer. Based on most clinical trials we have seen the 20 to 40 joules of treatment should be completed a few times a week. Something like 3 to 5 times a week seems optimum as it also leaves the skin a few days of rest. Whilst we have not seen any negative data on daily usage, it seems logical to allow your skin some rest days.

What time of day to use?

This appears from the research to be not critical. We have heard from users that prefer early morning red light sessions to improve energy levels, and others that prefer evening usage. Some also use red light before their training sessions to enhance performance, or indeed after training for recovery. We recommend each user experiments and finds a protocol that suits their own daily routine.

Should I use eye protection?

Yes, eye protection is recommended as the LEDS are very bright - although the wavelengths used are themselves not considered dangerous. Some research has shown red, and near-infrared may be beneficial to the eyes but here at Dermfix we do not feel enough treatment protocols have been demonstrated to be able to recommend this as a treatment. If you do choose to use a red-light panel without using eye protection, then we recommend you do not stare directly into the LEDs.

Can I use the panel in a sauna or bathroom or outside?

No. The Dermfix LED panels are not certified beyond an IP20 rating which means they are not suitable for bathrooms, outdoors, saunas or anywhere there is a risk of water or steam contact. Suitable areas inside the house are bedrooms, living rooms or similar.

Can I use red light in summer?

Absolutely. Here at Dermfix we are aware of the benefits of some sensible sunlight exposure (Vitamin D production etc) but red light does not have UV-A and UV-B and therefore can be used in a safer and more regulated manner than exposure to natural sunlight. Like many things in life, a little of both can be good. Red light can offer some added benefits such as increased energy levels, muscle recovery and even added protection against sunburn so is suitable for use throughout the year.

How does red light therapy work?

Red light therapy is thought to work by acting on and assisting the “mitochondria” in the cells of your body. The mitochondria produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate) energy for the cells to utilise. With more energy your cells can do their work more efficiently, doing things like repairing skin, boosting new cell growth and enhancing skin rejuvenation.

For what skin conditions is red light therapy being used?

Research is always ongoing, but red-light therapy is being applied as a treatment for some common skin conditions, including, but not limited to:

To assist wound healing.
To help clear acne, psoriasis, rosacea, eczema.
To lessen scars.
To improve sun-damaged skin.
For hair growth.
Reduce stretch marks.
Reduce wrinkles, fine lines and age spots.

What else is red light therapy generally being used for?

This list is constantly expanding. Please refer to our NEWS section for updates on specific conditions being treated with red light but some examples are:

To reduce cell inflammation.
To increase blood circulation to the tissue.
To stimulate collagen production
To Increase fibroblast production
To Improve skin health
To Increase energy
To aid Muscle recovery
To Improved circulation
To Reduced inflammation & pain relief
To Boost melatonin
To offer some pain relief

Why are the LEDS different colours?

The RLF units are fitted with dual LEDs so that the 7 wavelengths are spread as evenly as possible across the LED panel. Each LED is made of a combination of 2 wavelengths and this leads to colour differences when viewed with the human eye.

Why are there 7 different wavelengths?

Red light for home usage with LEDs is still new science and advantages are constantly being discovered for different wavelengths. The modern panels therefore allow for adjustment of each individual wavelength allowing for individually tailored modes.

In the past most of the research was conducted at around the 630nm and 850nm wavelengths, but this has now expanded.

The individual wavelengths can be summarised as follows:

Blue

480nm blue light is commonly used in light therapy for skin health, particularly for treating acne and related skin conditions. It is believed to work by targeting and killing acne-causing bacteria on the skin's surface. Additionally, blue light at this wavelength may have anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce redness and improve skin tone

Red

These wavelengths range from 620 to 750 nanometers (nm), are visible and absorbed into the skin to a maximum depth of between 4 and 5 mm.

630 nm: Perfect for stimulating collagen production and skin rejuvenation. It sparks fibroblast activity in the upper epidermis and dermis.
660 nm: Goes a bit deeper to reduce inflammation and support wound healing in skin and shallow muscle tissue.

Near Infrared (NIR)

Near-infrared (NIR) light, which is above 700nm penetrates deeper into muscle, joints, and even the brain, where it supports pain relief, inflammation reduction, and cellular energy production.

810 nm: Known for boosting mitochondrial activity and energy (ATP) production, which is ideal for muscle recovery and metabolic support. studies have shown that combining the 810nm wavelength with other wavelengths like and 1064nm can lead to improved skin rejuvenation outcomes, including wrinkle reduction and increased collagen production.

830 nm: 30nm near-infrared light is used in light therapy for skin health, particularly for its deep tissue penetration and ability to stimulate cellular activity. This wavelength is known to promote skin healing, reduce inflammation, and boost collagen and elastin production, leading to firmer, more youthful-looking skin

850 nm: Delivers deep penetration, targeting joints, ligaments, and deep tissues for pain relief and structural repair. Near Infrared (850nm) is designed for deep tissue, muscle, and joint treatments.

1060nm: often used in non-invasive skin treatments, and can be beneficial for skin health in several ways, including facial rejuvenation, fat reduction, and treatment of vascular lesions. It's a wavelength that penetrates the skin to target specific issues like fat cells or blood vessels.

Can I wear clothing?

Ideally not. Red light is blocked by clothing and most of the near-infrared is also blocked. We recommend wearing as little clothing as possible or ideally none at all! Clean dry skin is best and with no lotions or creams applied (they can be applied after treatment).

What are the Pulsing settings for?

Pulsing is the ability to rapidly switch the LEDS on and off…..something like a strobe light effect. The latest red light LED panels offer this option to pulse between 0-9999hz. Here at Dermfix we consider this option is only for advanced users, and we have not seen enough clinical data to justify recommending its usage or enough guidance on possible treatment protocols. So we have integrated this option into our panels so that you are future proofed, but for most users we would not recommend using this option. We will of course update this page in future as more information becomes available.

What are Smart Modes?

These simple and convenient buttons allow for a range of quick everyday settings. Exact details of the settings are included in the instruction’s manuals included with the LED panels, showing the different percentage of wavelengths and the times that are used for each smart mode. We think these are the quickest and easiest way to use the devices once you have a chosen mode that suits your lifestyle and needs.