The Top 5 Strongest Red Light Therapy at Home Devices -

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When looking to purchase an at-home red light therapy device, it’s important to consider the strength of the device. Nobody wants to buy a device only to find out it is too weak to be effective. On the flip side, sometimes stronger isn’t better and other factors are more important. In this article, we will consider what factors are most important in considering a red light therapy device, how strength is measured in red light therapy devices, what the optimal strength for these devices is and what the top 5 strongest red light therapy at home devices are. Let’s dive in!

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Understanding the Strength: Irradiance Explained

At the heart of determining the strength of a red light therapy device lies irradiance. Irradiance, often measured in milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm²), defines the concentration of light energy delivered to the treated area. The strongest devices boast impressive irradiance levels, ensuring an effective therapy session.

The Benefits of Strength When it Comes to Red Light Therapy

1. Accelerate Healing:

Higher strength/potency equates to rapid cellular repair and regeneration, making them an excellent choice for individuals recovering from injuries or looking to enhance their physical performance.

2. Improved Skin Health:

High-irradiance red light therapy is known to stimulate collagen production and promote skin rejuvenation. Those looking to heal skin acne, reduce wrinkles, and overall look more youthful should consider the levels of irradiance in the at home device they use.

3. Deeper Tissue Penetration:

The strongest devices penetrate deeper into tissues, reaching muscles, joints, and even bones. This depth of penetration contributes to their efficacy in addressing a variety of health concerns. If you are looking for deeper tissue penetration then you need to also use a device with near-infrared wavelengths (in the 800s and up) because these wavelengths penetrate more deeply. You couldn’t for instance, use a red light therapy device with red light (as opposed to near-infrared) wavelengths with high irradiance and think it would be as effective as a device with the same irradiance and near-infrared wavelengths.

Is Stronger Always More Effective?

While the allure of powerful red light therapy devices is undeniable, a debate ensues in the wellness community: Is stronger always more effective? To answer this question, we must delve into the intricacies of red light therapy and how irradiance levels impact its outcomes.

It Depends on the individual

The effectiveness of red light therapy is inherently individualistic. Factors such as skin type, age, and the specific condition being addressed contribute to the variability in responses. What works for one person may not yield the same results for another.

Optimal Dosing Depending on Goals

Red light therapy follows the principle of hormesis, where beneficial effects are observed within a specific range of exposure. While higher irradiance levels may offer advantages in certain scenarios, adhering to optimal dosing guidelines is crucial to prevent diminishing returns or potential side effects.

Collagen Production and Wrinkle Reduction:

For stimulating collagen production and reducing wrinkles, studies often use irradiances in the range of 30 to 100 mW/cm². In practice, if irradiance is lower than the physiological threshold value for a given target, it does not produce beneficial effects even when irradiation duration is extended. The following was noted and quoted in this study about near and far infrared therapy and the levels of irradiance.

In a nutshell, when it comes to collagen production and wrinkle reduction, power power is not better. There is a threshold of where the power needs to be effective, which seems to be 30-100 mW/cm² but above 100 mW/cm² and you will see negative effects. This is why you should follow the manufacturer’s directions on your at-home red light therapy device and honestly, this is more reason to do steady short (10-20 minute) sessions with an at-home device with lower power than longer and stronger therapies in the office.

Collagen Wound Healing and Tissue Repair:

Studies on wound healing and tissue repair have utilized irradiances ranging from 20 to 100 mW/cm². This suggests that this is the most effective range to use red light therapy and infrared therapy. This also lines up with the same strength as what is suggested for collagen production, which makes sense.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects:

Lower irradiance levels, around 20 to 50 mW/cm², have been effective in studies focusing on anti-inflammatory effects. Heat can cause inflammation (one reason ice helps with inflammation of joints or muscles) so this makes sense that the optimal range is a bit lower.

This study shows how different irradiance levels, at different times, and different wavelengths had different effects on all sorts of inflammatory disease and injury. What I took away from this study is that the strength needed depended on the part of the body treated.

A fleshy area like the belly would need less strength than an area like the skull, which would need much higher levels. Also, it seemed that the key is regular medium-length sessions as opposed to super short sessions or fewer sessions. Those looking to lose weight should check out the part of the study where those who used red light therapy had much flatter bellies than those who did not!

Pain Relief:

The ideal irradiance for a red light therapy device for pain relief can vary based on the specific condition, depth of the tissues being targeted, and individual factors. However, research and clinical studies have used a range of irradiances for pain relief applications. Here are some general guidelines:

Mild to Moderate Pain: For conditions involving mild to moderate pain, studies have often used irradiances in the range of 5 to 50 milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm²).
Chronic or Deeper Tissue Pain: Conditions that involve chronic pain or deeper tissues may benefit from higher irradiances in the range of 50 to 100 mW/cm².

It’s important to note that these are general ranges, and the optimal irradiance can vary based on factors such as the specific type of pain, the depth of the targeted tissues, and individual responses. Additionally, the choice of specific wavelengths and treatment duration also plays a role in the effectiveness of red light therapy for pain relief.

Strongest Red Light Therapy at Home Device For Skin/Beauty

CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Face Mask

This is the mask I use and I love it. The irradiance of 30 mW/cm² lines up with optimal strength for beauty applications.
31% more powerful than any other LED mask- This is their claim and with research I found almost no other masks list their strength on their website but I did find that the Solawave mask also has the same irradiance.
FDA-Cleared, clinically proven to reduce wrinkles in just 4 weeks
95% of users have seen improved skin tone, texture and firmness
Patented flexible silicone ensures light penetrates every area of the face
132 LED bulbs deliver 30 mW/cm² for a powerful 10-minute treatment
Pillow Technology™ diffuses the LED light to ensure maximum skin coverage

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DERMALUX FLEX MD LED LIGHT THERAPY DEVICE

The world’s most powerful in-clinic LED light therapy treatment is now exclusively available for at-home use
Very cool because you can use it as an arch or as a mat/panel. This seems so helpful for using for the arch for the face or areas like the knee/elbow and then the mat with no arch for areas like the back.
Delivers 3 clinically proven LED wavelengths through 360 LED bulbs
World-first, flexible, and easy to use with quick 30-minute sessions
7 targeted treatments for anti-aging, rosacea, eczema, acne, acne scars, and joints
Suitable for all ages and skin types
Loved by medical professionals, skincare experts, and celebrities worldwide
DOSE RANGE (JOULES): 10 TO 40
INTENSITY (M/W): 5 TO 27

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Strongest Red Light Therapy at Home Device For Pain

These are the strongest FDA-cleared red light therapy at home devices for pain. The optimal irradiance power is around 100 mW/cm² so please keep that in consideration. Some studies show that at higher levels the skin can age (this is all radiation so it’s important to remember that more isn’t always better). The following highest-strength devices are listed weakest to strongest.

Multi Radiance LASERSHOWER™ PACKAGE

Laser so it works differently than other devices mentioned and power is measured differently. The Super pulse lasers that are used use highter powers but at super short spurts.
Laser infrared radiation peak pulse power: 50W (4 diods)
Shortened treatment times because of strength and the area of the emitters.
FDA Cleared
It is used to treat larger muscle groups and the spine.
Multi-radiance builds light-therapy devices based in part on NASA-funded research.
Most of the devices sold by Multi-radiance are for professional use. You have to “request a quote” to purchase one of their three at home devices (including this one).

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Thera Tri-Lite

FDA Cleared
The general treatment time is 22 mins. Each day five (5) days a week. With the panel on directly on the skin, or up to 8 inches away.
130mW/cm² @ 6″ is what is the recommended distance.
Includes One Thera TriLight Panel, Four (4) suction cups, One USB power cord, and One USB plug.
A little awkward to hang or use other than using suction cups or directly on skin (which isn’t the recommended distance.
PAD MEASUREMENTS: 14 in X 10 in.

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Joovv Red Light Therapy Devices

Extremely cool tech that allows you to build your own size panel and display them in all different ways.
Optical Irradiance: > 100 mW/cm2
Bluetooth enabled
Recovery+ mode
Ambient Mode
10-minute treatments at 16-24 inches from your device is optimal.
Optional accessories
Upgradeable kit options

ATaPa ATON MAX

Great Full and Half Body Coverage
Size: 36.5 x 11.8 x 2.5 inches
Irradiance: >212mw/cm2 at 3 inches
The control panel allows you to switch between 660nm (red) and 850nm (NIR), allowing for full customization of the session. Use red alone, NIR alone, or both at the same time!

Conclusion: The Strongest Red Light Therapy at Home

To wrap it up, the strongest red light therapy at home device for pain is the ATaPA Aton Max and the strongest red light therapy mask for beauty is the Currentbody Face Mask. However, I don’t quite trust ATaPA as a company because they claim to be FDA “Approved” and that is not even possible because red light therapy devices can not even be FDA approved, only FDA cleared. I confronted this on them and they showed me incoherent evidence of them being “registered”- which means nothing. So… buyer beware and here’s an article I wrote about FDA approval for red light therapy at home devices if you want to check it out.

I personally own and LOVE the Currentbody Red Light Therapy Mask. I love that it is comfortable and flexible. I love that I can use it on my chest or any other part of my body because it’s flexible.

When I buy a red light panel for my whole body I would either buy the Therasage flexible panel because it has great strength and is SO much less expensive than the other options. If budget weren’t an issue I would get the Joovv set up because it has optimal strength, a lot of research behind it, and the setup is just so appealing that you would actually use it all of the time OR the DERMALUX FLEX MD LED LIGHT THERAPY DEVICE because of it’s versatility and ease of use.