Many people are becoming interested in the therapeutic benefits of red light therapy. And one of the first questions they ask is, “How often should I receive red light therapy (RLT)?” Many of us have a wide range of health conditions. There are so many different at-home RLT products. And we all have different individual life circumstances as well. So it is no surprise that the answer is, “It depends.”
What does it depend upon? Here are four factors to consider when determining how often to treat yourself with red light or low-level light therapies (LLLT).
Factor #1: Your Health Condition, and Why You’re Seeking a Remedy
The scientific and medical community has extensively research red light therapy. The health conditions tested include:
- improving skin feel and appearance
- repairing skin damage
- reducing fat tissue and slimming body lines
- improving mental and cognitive states
- accelerating recovery from surgeries and injuries
Every year, doctors learn about new potential applications of photonics. Your desired results will vary based on the condition that you’re treating.
Frequency of Red Light Therapy for Skin Feeling and Appearance
One reason for the interest in photobiomodulation (PBM) is because of the potential benefits for skin. The effectiveness of photobiomodulation (PBM) on skin complexion, feeling, roughness, collagen intensity, and wrinkles was studied in 2012. Shortly thereafter, those findings were published in 2014. The study concluded that “treated subjects experienced significantly improved skin complexion and skin feeling” in “ultrasonically measured collagen density.” (Emphasis added.)
Researchers administered several 25-minute treatments to study participants. Following the 30th treatment, the results were evaluated. Here is a photo from the study which shows the improvement on a 41 year old female participant. This photo compares her forehead at start of the study (t0) and the results after the 30th treatment (t30).
Frequency of Red Light Therapy for Body Contouring
Another popular use of red light therapy is for body contouring. Body contouring is a fancy way of referring to achieving a thinner or slimmer physique. There are a lot of people who want reduced waistlines, hiplines, and thigh circumference.
We will continue to search for information about whether PBM works for weight loss. But the good news is that there has been some research into what happens to fat cells and fatty tissue when exposed to certain wavelengths of red light and near-infrared light.
One interesting study demonstrated the effects of a single, 32 minute treatment on targeted areas of the body in 58 subjects, compared to six treatments with a “hot light” (laser-based liposculpture). In this study, the RLT was coupled with a diet and exercise regime. An average reduction in circumferential measurement of 3.5 inches was achieved after just a single treatment.
A second study conducted in 2018 described testing for a similar reduction in circumferential measurement on protruding areas of fat in 118 subjects. The results of this study have not yet been published, but the details of the study suggest that results are sought on the routine use of 635nm LEDs in sessions of 30 minutes in length.
If true body contouring results are to be achieved, success probably involves using red light therapies in concert with the “tried and true” methods of weight loss: diet and exercise.
If you are seeking weight loss, you should probably plan on frequent red light therapy sessions as well as regular exercise to see the best results.
Frequency of Red Light Therapy for Improved Brain Function
The human brain is perhaps one of the universe’s most complex and fascinating systems. The brain controls thought, emotion, and motor skills. The brain is the organ of the body that makes us unique as living things. Since the human brain is such a complex system, it is no surprise that light energy may affect cell function and deliver benefits.
Red light therapy has generated interest from scientists and consumers concerned about neurological issues. They seek improvements in mood, cognition, attention, and focus. There’s also a desire to help with disorders such as dementia, alzheimer’s disease, depression, and epilepsy.
Factor #2: The Equipment and Devices Used to Administer the Treatment
Your choice of equipment is also an important factor that determines how often you should use red light therapy. Not all products work the same way.
Your success with red light therapy treatment is directly related to how much photonic energy you expose to the affected area of the body. A more powerful device will work better than a less powerful device. The same amount of energy concentrated on a smaller area of the body will work better than focusing on a larger area of the body. More time in front of the light will work better than less light exposure. This is because of the nature of light energy itself.
Note: we will be sharing a dosage guide for beginners of red light therapy soon. Please make sure to join our Facebook group to be notified when it is completed.
Factor #3: Consistency of Your Treatment
Let’s face it. Consistent treatments will always have better results than sporadic use. Red light therapy, how often you use it, and the products used for your treatment won’t achieve the desired results if you’re not using it in a consistent way.
Stick to a Schedule
You are more likely to see positive results if you use your red light therapy device frequently and at around same time of day. Based on our research, people who have had the most success with photobiomodulation have treated themselves daily at the same time each day.
There doesn’t seem to be any evidence that you can overdo it. So don’t be shy. Treat yourself often!
Focus on the Same Problem Areas Every Time
You should also focus your therapy on the same areas of the body in a consistent way. For example, if a particular joint is causing pain, make sure that you treat that joint each and every time. Also, position your body the same way around the device. You should be consistent with your distance from the device as well.
Factor #4: Impact to Your Schedule
Most people don’t have a lot of free time on their hands. This is perhaps one of the most important factors that determines how often you should use a form of low level light therapy.
Earlier in the article we suggested that you can’t overdo it. But there are some things in life that you simply can’t avoid, such as work, school, or caretaking for family members. All of these activities matter to your health and wellness.
Therefore, it is best to find the right schedule for your treatments that don’t impact other important aspects of your life.