Most insurance carriers have a financial interest in making sure that health care claims are valid. Carriers are very specific about covered medical expenses. Many plans won’t cover certain “health care” expenses. Is red light therapy covered by insurance?
This is a “sponsored” article, so the information should be independently verified by the reader. But it does raise an interesting question.
I have heard from too many doctors that stated, ‘we know it works but we cannot bill the insurance company for it’. So, they offer the treatments that do not work but are billable to the insurance providers.
David Christenson, Founder and CEO of Neurocare systems
For your red light therapy dosage to be effective, you must use the proper dose for the outcome you’re seeking. If your dose is too weak or for too short of time, you get little to no benefit. Surprisingly, the same is true of too strong of a dose.
Red light therapy is extremely safe and simple, but since there’s no benefit to “more,” it makes sense to err on the side of caution.
5 Components to a Proper Red Light Dose
Strength: Power density of red light device
Size: How much body area it can cover
Duration: Length of treatment time
Positioning: Distance of device from the body
Frequency: How often to treat
Red Light Power Density
Power density is measured by the wattage of the light and the wavelengths of that light. Not all wavelengths are therapeutic, so it’s important to ensure your device’s total wattage is made up of 100% therapeutic wavelengths. With some devices, that percentage can be as low as 20%-60%.
When treating deep tissue conditions, you will want a higher power density, producing a dose of 10-60J.
If you’re treating anti-aging or skin issues, a low dose of 3-15J seems to provide better results. Rather than choosing a smaller or lower-dose device, however, simply position a higher-power device further away to get the dose you need. This means you also can treat a larger area of the body at one time.
For use near eyes, genitals, a raw wound on your skin or any other sensitive area, use only low doses of 2-10J or even lower.
Red Light Device Size
An entire treatment area receives dispersed power. So a 200-watt device that is only a few inches wide may work well for your wrist but not for your shoulder, as you may be able to treat only one small section at one time. A small light focused on different areas of the body in separate treatments might be somewhat helpful if you use longer treatment time, but if it’s also a lower-power light, it won’t penetrate as deeply. You should be able to treat at least 5-10” at one time.
A larger, high-powered device will serve all your needs. As stated earlier, it works well for deep tissue. By simply increasing the distance from the body, can also provide an effective dose for superficial skin conditions. Light spreads as you move it backward, so you also get the benefit of covering more of the body at one time. Smaller high-powered devices can, similarly, treat multiple dosing needs.
This component of red light therapy dosage is tied closely to how convenient treatment is for you and whether or not you will continue to use it. Why settle for dozens of short treatments for each area when you can treat the front or back of your entire body in one 20-minute treatment?
Red Light Treatment Time & Distance
Power density is also impacted by distance from the affected area and duration of treatment time. Treatment time varies with the condition you’re treating (see below). But it is advised that you limit your total treatment dose for all areas of the body to no more than roughly 120J. That means no more than 15-20 minutes of treatment time in one session.
The highest red light therapy dosage occurs within a few inches, and by three feet away there’s little to no effect. Most experts recommend treating an area at least 6 inches away. But light will penetrate deeper through soft tissue than through your skull, so the area (and size of the area) you’re treating will require different times and distances.
Since not all devices are equal, it’s almost impossible to give specific distance recommendations, but energy specialist Ari Whitten recommends the following guidelines when using high-power density red lights:
Red Light Therapy Dosage For Skin
1-4 minutes from 12” away
1.5-5 minutes from 18” away
2-8 minutes from 24” away
Red Light Therapy Dosage For Deep Tissues
Whitten states that the deeper the tissue you’re trying to treat (muscles, bones, glands, organs, tendons, ligaments, etc.), the higher the overall dose you want to administer and the closer to your body you want the light to be:
2-7 minutes from 6” away, per area
5-10 minutes from 12” away, per area
[Whitten advises that the brain may require the upper limits listed here for light to penetrate through the skull.]
Red Light Treatment Frequency
Start slowly, perhaps two times a week, to see how your body responds. You can build up to as often two times per day if you’re seeing results, but optimal frequency is probably every other day.
Can You Overdose on Red Light Therapy?
The more fragile your overall condition is, the slower you should go with red light therapy to avoid fatigue. A very ill person should start below the lower limits listed above to see how you tolerate the treatment. Then slowly increase the dose over subsequent days or weeks to find the appropriate dose for you within the range outlined above. (Whitten)
Optimal doses for the skin can be reached within seconds or a few minutes with many devices, so it’s extremely easy to “over” treat. In that case, the effect is less benefit. More does not lead to better results.
Red light therapy is safe. So for even a massive red light dose, the worst you would experience is fatigue or a slight headache. An overdose should seem no worse than the results of over-exercising.
Choosing a Device
Most devices on the market are significantly underpowered. Their wattage is too low to reach therapeutic levels for large areas of the body, especially for deep tissue conditions. This means longer treatments with less benefit, and more likelihood of abandoning your device.
Choose a high-powered device for best results. We have reviewed several brands on our brand reviews page.
You may have heard some buzz about about the benefits of red light therapy (RLT). Also referred to as “low level laser therapy” or “photobiomodulation”, this interesting therapeutic method has captured a lot of attention for its efficacy, convenience, safety, and versatility.
Is red light therapy all that it is chalked up to be? Does it really work? Which conditions does LLLT treat well?
Let’s take a look at the potential benefits of using red light therapy benefits.
Red light therapy could help with many health conditions
Photobiomodulation, the science on which red light therapy is based, has shown promise in clinical and real-world applications for treating a range of conditions. The science is based on the ability of certain types of light to activate cellular processes, which in turn can help to trigger or speed up healing, recovery, or wellness outcomes.
Scientists, doctors, and consumers have shared their experiences with using red light therapy in many ways, including:
Skin. RLT has been used to help wounds heal faster and to improve the look and feel of skin. Many clinicians are using it to reduce wrinkles, treat rosacea, eczema, and acne, and to counter the effects of aging to achieve a younger-looking face.
Body contouring. Many fitness experts have used RLT as part of a fitness program to help with weight loss, muscle development, and fat and cellulite reduction.
Immune response. There has been promising research into using RLT to trigger an improved immune response, which can help with conditions like psoriasis,
Disease mitigation. Medical experts are studying how RLT can help patients recover from cancer, mitigate the effects of cancer treatment, slow or reverse neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and so on.
Mental health and cognition. We all know that light, generally speaking, is good for us. Red light may be beneficial for mood, sleep, focus, and mental clarity.
Red light therapy is non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical, and even non-contact
One of the most exciting potential benefits of red light therapy is that it doesn’t involve putting any substances into your body. Pharmaceuticals and medicines are advanced, well-researched, and often effective forms of treatment. But as we all know from every TV commercial, pharmaceuticals can have side effects.
Furthermore, surgeries and even physical therapy have their risks. There is always the risk that something can go wrong, reversing or impeding the progress of the treatment.
Even CBD oil, one of the more recent health crazes, involves ingesting or inhaling a chemical compound into your body. Topical CBD treatments also involve exposing a chemical to your body.
Light is energy, not matter. Therefore, most experts agree that red light therapy is a flexible, low-risk form of treatment that can work both as a complement or a substitute to other approaches. This is incredibly advantageous to the consumer.
Red light therapy can be very cost-effective
Traditional medicine can be very expensive. Healthcare is a very expensive industry because of many factors, including the cost of regulation, the money required to build and manage a hospital or medical facility, the adminstration and overhead involved in running the business of healthcare, and the training and education required of those who deliver service.
Now it is possible to “do it yourself” (DIY). You can administer your own at-home treatments with innovative and cost-effective consumer-grade devices and equipment. For consumers like you and me, these new options can save a lot of money compared to receiving alternative or traditional treatments in clinical environments.
It is very, very safe
I have heard horror stories about all kinds of treatments, ranging from adverse reactions to chemical peels and depression medications. While these therapies surely help a great many people, for a small number of people they can have negative results. It is hard to predict whether any form of treatment will be safe for you as an individual.
And yet with red light therapy, it is very difficult to find examples of negative side effects resulting from its use.
It seems that exposure to red light, at its absolute worst, could simply be time lost. This has led some to conclude that red light therapy has no downsides whatsoever. In truth, there are always potential downsides. But for the time being, it seems safe to assume that RLT won’t do much harm to your body.
What is the best red light therapy wavelength? If you have begun your research into low-level light therapy (LLLT) then you have probably come across terms such as “wavelength” and “irradiance”. In this post, we’ll try to explain what they mean and what you need to know to continue your journey.
Wavelength is the Color (Kind of)
If you think back to one of your science classes, you may remember learning about the electromagnetic spectrum. Generally, electromagnetism is the science of how charged particles move in waves through space. This science covers all kinds of waves, including x-rays, gamma rays, and radio waves. But specifically, we focus on small portion called the “visible light spectrum”.
You Can See Some Wavelengths
Obviously the visible light spectrum is the small portion of electromagnetic waves that humans can see with our eyes. For example, these are the colors of the rainbow and all of the shades in between.
Just outside each end of the visible light portion of the spectrum lies ultraviolet light and infrared light.
Wavelength is a measure of distance between the peaks of the waves. We measure visible light in nanometers (nm). So a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter.
The human eye can detect wavelengths as small as 400nm and as large as 700nm.
We all know that x-rays can penetrate many kinds of human tissue. That’s how they are used to “see” things on film. The harder, denser tissue absorbs or reflects some of those waves, while the softer tissue transfers those waves.
Most light works in a similar way. Body tissue reflects some colors, such as the shorter wavelengths. Certain parts of the body transfer the energy of some colors. Finally some “colors” are absorbed.
We’ve found clinical trials published online that have involved testing red light therapies with wavelengths of as low as 570nm and as high as 850nm. The specific wavelength selected for treatment depends primarily on the level of tissue penetration desired, with higher wavelengths penetrating deeper into human tissue. Wavelengths below 540nm, which is generally greenish light, will typically not penetrate more than 3 millimeters into skin. This depth is roughly equivalent to where the base of a hair follicle would be. Near-infrared, which has wavelengths of 750nm or greater, travels through skin. Higher wavelengths can reach bone and tissue deep inside the body.
Irradiance: the Intensity of the Energy Delivered to An Area
The light’s energy intensity is another important factor in understanding photobiomodulation (PBM). This measurement is written as Milliwatts per square centimeter (mw/cm2).
Total Exposure Matters Most
However, imagine this example. You’ve step outside in the desert sun in the middle of summer. Obviously the sun there is hot. But being outside for a few seconds won’t have a large effect on your body. Prolonged exposure to that kind of energy makes all the difference. A Joule is the amount of work required to produce one Watt of power for one second. You can measure the total energy delivered to an area in Joules. Your treatment will be more effective with more exposure to a constant light energy source.
Red Light Therapy Wavelength and Irradiance Determine the Best Dosage
You should carefully evaluate the health outcomes you seek and match your purchase decisions to the products that are capable of achieving those outcomes. Most products allow you to select the desired red light therapy wavelength.
Smaller, handheld products deliver less energy to an area of the body. Larger units, like beds or panels, deliver more energy.
If you’re treating small areas of skin or a single bone or joint, a smaller unit may work just fine. However, a handheld device might not work that well if you’re trying to cover a large portion of your body.
In our opinion, you should gather many opinions from multiple sources to ensure success. Peers and medical experts are great sources of advice. Overall, the cost of these innovative products is coming down. Most importantly, choose the product that best fits the wellness outcome that you’re seeking.
Red light therapy is a hot new topic. So many beginners ask about the science. “What does red light therapy do?” is the common first question. You’ve come to the right place if you are curious, but don’t want to pore through technical details.
In this article, we take a deeper look at photobiomodulation (PBM). PBM is the science of how light affects living tissue.
Science of light and skin health
What is Light?
Electromagnetism is the physics involving radiation. In other words, the science of how charged fundamental particles move through space. Charged electrons travel in harmonious waves of energy called “photons”. The patterns travelled by these photons can vary. (Think of various types of waves you’ve encountered in your life, whether at the ocean or listening to an echo in a large empty space.)
Portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, in particular the upper end of the visible light light spectrum and just above (red and near-infrared light), have been studied by researchers and physicians for the effect that they have on the cells of living creatures. In particular, scientists have discovered that specific waves of light affect mitochondria, which are components of a living cell.
Photobiomodulation: How Light Affects Living Cells
Different kinds of light can affect different kinds of cells in different ways. Scientists and the medical research community have studied these effects for many years now. Scientists are studying new treatments and applications all the time. We are learning so much about how light affects cells. But the science isn’t that simple. You can’t just shine a flashlight at your body and expect it to change. And while we know generally that it is healthier for most people to spend a reasonable time outside in the sunlight rather than indoors all day and all night, it’s a bit more complicated than that. Light comes in many different forms.
The Job of a Cell
Cells can have many “jobs” in the body. These jobs include metabolic regulation, immune signaling, programmed cell death, and many other functions. Since certain types of cells “do certain things”, such as fight infection, reproduce, and repair tissue, all living cells require energy to perform these tasks. It takes the right kind of photon to stimulate the production of ATP within the mitochondria.
Frequencies & Wavelengths are How Light Is Measured
As your exploration of the potential benefits of red light therapy continues, you will encounter terms like “nanometers” and “wavelengths” and “frequency”.
The terms “frequency” and “wavelength” are measurements of these different types of waves. The two terms are related.
Frequency refers to the time required for waves to oscillate, or “cycle”. For example, a 60 hertz wave completes 60 oscillations per second. Wavelength refers to the distance between the two of the same points along a wave’s cycle. Since any given wave always travels at a constant rate, the distance between the nearest two peaks and the nearest two troughs will always be identical.
Courtesy of techplayon.com
Most devices measure the light administered as a wavelength, and since a wavelength is a distance, it will usually be measured in nanometers, abbreviated as “nm”. One nanometer is equivalent to 0.0000001 centimeters. Pretty short!
Why are Wavelengths Important in Light Therapy?
Wavelength is one of the primary determinants of how deep into living tissue the light will penetrate. This is important because, for example, treating an area deep in the brain requires a different wavelength of light than a wrinkle on the surface of the skin.
Here is where we get to put all of the pieces of the science together. Shorter wavelengths of light (colors like green, blue, and ultraviolet) do not penetrate tissue. But red and near infrared do penetrate human tissue. As a result, red is “the” color for light therapy. For this reason, shorter wavelengths of light get reflected by tissue, while very long wavelengths of light transfer the light (kind of like “passing-through”). Human tissue absorbs the red portion of the spectrum.
The benefits of light on human health has been studied for decades. And we all know that plants need visible light from the sun to grow and life to thrive. But some of the interest in the practical application of red and near-infrared light came from NASA, who used the light to grow plants on the Space Shuttle and also found that it helped to heal wounds.
Is the Science Settled? Does Light Really Make a Difference for Health and Medical Issues?
We feel very strongly that there’s really no such thing as “settled science”. Here at Red Light Therapy 101, we will always view findings with an open mind and a critical eye. We think that there are always more questions to ask. There is always room for more research. And we believe that new things will always be discovered if we continue to ask objective, rational questions and seek truth.
So the most appropriate answer is that every consumer should find all of the facts that they can, share those facts with other truth-seekers, and only take prudent measures with your own health, informed by the facts that you have gathered. Our advice is to understand the potential benefits and risks of all possible treatments. Consult a range of experts and gather their recommendations. And then make an informed decision about which treatments to pursue, understanding that there’s no such thing as a “sure thing” and “zero risk”.
That’s why we created the Red Light Therapy 101 Facebook group. All interested consumers are invited to join the group, learn from each other, share their own experiences. If you haven’t joined the group yet, please join soon and be there for the discussions.
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.
Welcome! If you’ve asked yourself, “What is red light therapy?” or heard about the science of photobiomodulation, then you’ve come to the right place! So, we wrote this beginner’s guide to help you get started on your journey to improved health.
Many scientists and doctors recommend using red light for health and wellness. So what does it involve? Red light therapy involves directing specific wavelength combinations of light on living tissue. Accordingly, the medical community and consumers are realizing that malfunctioning tissue can be repaired with red light and near-infrared light.
Also, healthy tissue can be improved with the appropriate doses of red light. It can be targeted on specific areas of the body.
Red light therapy is a form of photobiomodulation. PBM stimulates cellular metabolism. As a result, these stimulated cells grow faster and self-repair. Therefore, when cells are exposed to the correct light, they produce signals that improve blood flow and tell other cells that “it is time to heal”. In layman’s terms, this can help a person’s health in several ways:
Helps body tissue recover from injuries faster
Slows, reverses, or prevents certain diseases
Reduces pain and inflammation
Improves bodily functions such as metabolism
Red light therapy is not new. There are many new products available. We’re excited that you’ve begun your journey. And we hope you find comfort and relief.
Why Is Red Light Therapy Interesting?
Red light therapy is appealing to consumers because it is safe and non-invasive. Therefore, it is often contact-free and never involves ingesting anything.
To put it into perspective, it is far safer than an x-ray.
Until recently, you received red light therapy in a clinical environment. Health and medical professionals usually administer treatment with devices that require special training. But the technology has advanced, the cost of the equipment is coming down and the devices are fairly easy to operate. There are many products available for in-home. Therefore, few require any special training or expertise.
Red light therapy has been studied pain management, injury or surgery recovery, and mental health. It has even been studied for hair growth and weight management. Furthermore, the research community is conducting new studies regularly. As a result, red light therapy could be a legitimate option for your health and wellness.
What is Red Light Therapy? A Detailed Explanation
You’ve made it this far. At this point, you may be wondering more about the science behind red light therapy. In this section, we will touch on the scientific and medical concepts in ways that an average person would understand. Please note that we are not doctors or scientists. To be clear, our role is to be an informed consumer. Just like you.
What is Light?
Light is simply a flow of charged sub-atomic particles that travel in harmonious waves of energy. These waves of particles are called “photons”. Just like waves in the ocean, light waves can be very different. Some waves are taller. Others have a lot of space between them. Certain light waves carry a lot of energy. Others barely move you when they run into your body.
How Does a Living Cell Work?
Scientists have called mitochondria the “power plant” of a cell because mitochondria product the energy that cells need to reproduce, repair, and signal other cells to do the same.
Mitochondria produce a chemical called adenisine triphosphate (ATP), which is an energy-rich molecule. You can think of ATP as a kind of fuel that a cell uses to do its job. Cells have all kinds of “jobs” in the body.
Cells Can Generate Energy From Light
Scientists have discovered that certain wavelengths of light will stimulate mitochondria of certain cells in different ways and at different speeds, making light therapy an interesting and powerful way to change how the body works.
Research has shown that higher-wavelength light can be effective in therapeutic situations. They can fight infection, repair wounds, and even produce signals to other cells that it is time to start work or speed up the job.
Which Health & Medical Conditions Can Be Treated with Red Light Therapy, Low-Level Laser Therapy, & Photobiomodulation?
At this writing, the list of conditions being studied for treatment by red light therapy is long. Red Light Therapy has been in numerous clinical trials to treat skin, bone, muscle, the brain, joints, and more. This type of therapy has been administered to consumers and patients of clinical professionals to improve sleep habits, reduce anxiety, and improve focus and mental state. And the medical community is active in using this form of non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical therapy to uncover additional health and wellness applications.
Low level laser light therapy and other forms of photobiomodulation could help treat many conditions.
Reverses the effects of aging on skin wrinkles, eyesight, and cognitive function
Combats certain cancers such as squamous cell carcinoma
How to Use Red Light Therapy
There are two common ways that individuals can experience photobiomodulation:
In a clinical setting
Initially, the equipment and devices developed for this innovative form of therapy were employed by medically-trained personnel. Those who sought this treatment typically would seek it on a scheduled basis and under the supervision of clinical staff. Check this page often. We intend to share what we learn about interesting examples of clinically-administered red light therapy services.
The technology behind photobiomodulation therapies has advanced to a point where there are now devices on the market that can be purchased by consumers for use in their own homes. Our evaluation of many of the products advertised on the market indicate that these devices are safe and fairly easy to use.
Is Red Light Therapy Safe?
The US Food & Drug Administration has established a classification system to regulate the use of lasers, as part of a larger mandate to regulate radiation-emitting devices and products. The FDA system for lasers and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) includes four classes, with some sub-classes. The purpose of the classifications is to group products by the hazards possible when using them. The lowest class, which can include products like CD players, is considered non-hazardous. Slightly more hazardous products include laser pointers and barcode scanners. The highest class is reserved for medical and industrial applications, and involve such powerful and focused light that they can result in significant bodily injury or even represent a fire hazard.
Any reputable manufacturer or clinical operator of this technology should be able to articulate how their products conform to the framework outlined by the FDA.
