Red Light Therapy Explained

How does it work? 

Simply put, light with the specific characteristic described below acts on cells in the body by supplying them with energy and helping them in their activity (among other things, it will increase the production of ATP in mitochondria – the source of energy of the cell). It works on almost all cells of the body. That is, the area that is exposed to the light is the one that benefits from it.

Therapeutic light characteristics 

Wavelength

Different wavelengths of light have different effects on the human body. The therapeutic spectrum of light – the so-called therapeutic window – which has the effects described above, has wavelengths of 600 to 1000 nm, and is divided into:

• red light: 600-700 nm
  • absorbed mostly by the skin, therefore it is suitable for solving problems in the upper layers of the skin, like:
  • scars, eczema, elasticity of the skin, youthful appearance…
• near infrared light (NIR, IR-A): 700-1000 nm
  • not seen or felt
  • penetrates deep under the skin, up to 9 cm
  • suitable for joints, bones, tendons, muscles… everything but the skin 😉

The supplied bulbs emit a wide spectrum of light with a peak in the therapeutic spectrum (about 37% of the energy produced is in the range 600-1000 nm).

Irradiance

Studies say you need to expose a place on the body to light with an intensity of 10-100 mW/cm2. The lower the intensity, the longer exposure needed.

Red Light Sauna irradiance:

<sup>* the device on the left, TES 1333 Solar Power Meter, measures light intensity (W/m2) up to 1000 nm, i.e. in the therapeutic spectrum. 10 W/m2 = 1 mW/cm2.
* the device on the right measures EMF levels</sup>

Distance	Irradiance	Electric field (EF)	Magnetic field (MF)
40 cm	70 mW/cm2	0 V/m	0 mG
50 cm	55 mW/cm2	0 V/m	0 mG

Treated area

Size matters… well, certainly in the case of the size of the illuminated area in red light therapy. The greater the exposed area at the desired intensity, the faster and more comfortable the therapy progresses.  If you have a small device, you have to gradually move it around the body, so the period of use is extended, which you will regret over time.

Red Light Sauna can illuminate the whole body at once.

Dosage

“The more, the better” does not apply with red light therapy. For maximum effect, you want the right amount of light, which ranges from 10 to 70 J/cm2 (see external links). As you exceed this amount, you slowly lose the benefits of light therapy.

For the Red Light Sauna, when using from the recommended distance of 40-50 cm, the correct dosage is 20-30 minutes from one side.

Risks / side effects

Red light therapy is considered safe. The only side effects known are associated with the risk of burns:

• when touching bulbs – they are hot
• with heat-free devices such as laser and LED devices, from overdose, e.g. if a person falls asleep during treatment. However, this risk is eliminated with heat-emitting incandescent bulbs, as in the Red Light Sauna, because a person can feel when it starts to burn.

Studies 

• more than 5000 studies
  (google doc table)
• try to google “red light therapy” and the health benefit/problem, you are looking for. You will probably find related study.

External links 

Complex overview and explanation:

• The Ultimate Guide To Red Light Therapy 
• WebMD

It helps with: