Finding the best at-home red light therapy devices can be challenging, so it’s not surprising that you are overwhelmed when choosing the right one, which can truly provide you with medical-grade treatment. And what is more perplexing is how to use red light therapy at home. If are there any precautions that must be abided by? If is there any manual or guideline to follow? In this blog, we’ll provide you with guidelines for the long-term use of red light therapy devices at home, as well as tips on how to maintain them and ensure their optimal performance. Finally, we’ll also share how to choose a professional red light therapy device today so that you can make a well-informed choice before purchasing.
Guidelines for long-term use of red light therapy devices at home
Most devices in this market provide red and near-infrared light at a specific wavelength; however, some allow using these two types of wavelengths simultaneously. Near-infrared light penetrates deeper into the muscle, whereas deep-red light can reach the superficial level of the hypodermis layer of the skin, especially red light less than 660 nm that can only be absorbed by more superficial skin cells above the hypodermis to stimulate collagen production. Choosing a medical-grade red light therapy device depends on your medical needs.
Red light at 660 nm: Best for targeting the skin directly, working on wrinkles and fine lines, balancing skin tone, and enhancing collagen production.
Near-infrared light at 830 nm: Best for treatment of deeper tissues, muscles, organs, the brain, and even bones. Near-infrared light widely works as an anti-inflammatory agent, which has various applications including wound healing, arthritis, muscle recovery, traumatic brain injury, thyroiditis, psoriasis, alopecia, and even more. For all possible applications of the anti-inflammatory properties of near-infrared light, you can find all clinical trials for inflammation in this study. However, the red light at around 660 nm also has an anti-inflammatory effect at a more superficial level, which can also be applied to alopecia, skin inflammation, arthritis, and other conditions. For weight loss or reducing cellulite, near-infrared wavelengths are more apt for the requirement of going through the fat layer.
Both red and near-infrared lights show effectiveness in improving sleep quality, and in some cases where collagen enhancement and penetration depth are required, it is recommended to use the combination of red and near-infrared lights, such as for arthritis, muscle recovery, and so on.
Precautions before a red light therapy
Eyes: Eye protection is necessary when using near-infrared light therapy, whereas in red light alone therapy, if the treatment session is too long or the irradiance is too high, it is also recommended to use protective eyewear because, as with any type of high-intensity light, light with too high irradiance may cause damage to the eyes.
Double-check any medications
You should check with your doctor if you need to take any medication that improves the light sensitivity of the skin.
Because medications can be risky, it is recommended to prolong the treatment time to achieve the same effect.
Step-by-step increment of irradiance level
If you don’t know your own specific light sensitivity and you need to measure how much light irradiance is optimal for you, it is recommended to increase the level of irradiance step by step to find the best level before you may feel a little uncomfortable, like more fatigue the next day, headache, or dryness in the eyes. It should be well known that overdosing doesn’t provide any benefits, but because of the biphasic law of low-level light therapy, it may inhibit or cancel the positive effects.
Continue the usual beauty regime
It is important to continue cleansing and moisturizing as the usual protection for the skin. Red light therapy doesn’t replace the skincare routine, but it enhances the benefits.
Clothing
For effective red light therapy use, the treatment area needs to be directly exposed to the light source, because red and near-infrared lights can’t go through the fibers of clothing.
Follow instructions or consult for irradiance level and dose
As in this review of the parameters of red light therapy, the irradiance must be adequate to penetrate the lesion area, and the dose must be adequate to trigger the biomodulation process. A too-high irradiance of light may also cause excessive heat and contribute to collagen loss and uncomfortable skin feeling. There is no fixed value of dose and irradiance; they depend on wavelengths and specific medical conditions. More details can be turned to in the article “The Ultimate Guide of Red Light Therapy — Bestqool” where you can get the ideas of irradiance and dose employment for various medical needs.
Maintenance tips for red light therapy devices at home
Proper use and maintenance of red light therapy devices ensure longer life of devices and enduring benefits for your treatment. You should always read through the user manual before using it and abide by all maintenance and operation guidelines. There is a general overview of the maintenance and use tips.
Charge correctly
You should use rechargeable devices properly so that you won’t reduce the charge life and effectiveness of devices. Remember to fully charge your devices before using them and recharge them after it is completely out of power.
Careful cleanness
Dust or particles may affect the efficacy of red light therapy treatment. Do not use liquids or damp cloths to remove dirt and dust off the LED light bulbs, but use an air blower gadget (such as a blow dryer or the air duster used for keyboards), because using the wrong way of cleaning will lead to damage to electrical components and LED light bulbs. The exterior of the devices usually made up of plastic or metal, can be cleaned with a moist cloth or rubbing alcohol, but only if you make sure the device is totally dried out before using it again because liquid may soak or submerge your devices, which could result in electrical issues or risks to your treatment.
Safely storing
Keep it away from harsh sunlight and heat sources, because overheating a gadget repeatedly or continuously can harm the device housing, the LEDs, and the electrical components.
Choosing the right red light therapy device: Bestqool’s answer
Red light therapy devices are becoming more and more popular, as they are effective at treating a variety of skin conditions. To choose the best red light therapy device for you, it’s important to understand the different types of devices and their respective benefits. Some devices are designed for aesthetic use, while others are designed for physical treatment. In this field the designs of devices vary widely; different distinctions include size panel, wearability, irradiance level control, LED technology, and more.
The advantages of Bestqool devices include:
1) Dual wavelength technology: Only a few manufacturers are able to produce products that emit both red and near-infrared wavelengths in this market. Bestqool company is able to apply advanced LED technology to manufacture devices that focus on specific wavelengths, i.e., red light at 660 nm and near-infrared light at 830 nm, which is proven effective in the narrow band of therapeutic red to near-infrared wavelengths.
2) The level of irradiance: LED light sources vary widely in the industry due to the difficulty of irradiance modeling. All Bestqool products offer an adequate level of irradiance to meet the highest performance of the industry, with the latest model of the Y series able to achieve around 100 mW/cm^2 as direct output. Bestqool products are also equipped with digit control for irradiance levels and a timing system so that you can have more accurate control of the treatment process.
3) The variety of choices: Bestqool provides solutions for various medical conditions, including red light therapy belt, red light therapy yoga pad, red light therapy wand, red and near-infrared light therapy mask in aesthetic series, and red and near-infrared light therapy panel in physical treatment series. Based on your specific needs, you can choose a device for versatile treatment of half-or-full body size, such red light therapy panel, or choose a specific design for the purposed treatment, such as red light therapy belt for body areas that are difficult to reach, like joints in arthritis conditions.
4) Safety security: All Bestqool products are produced from our FDA-registered factories, as well as ETL-certified to guarantee the safety standards of electrical devices. Though LED red light therapy as a non-invasive treatment is usually safest in the majority of conditions, a guarantee of being supervised by authoritative bodies ensures the effectiveness of medical devices. Bestqool products are registered as FDA Class â…¡ medical electrical devices, which means the claims and effectiveness for medical treatment purposes have been well studied and examined by authoritative bodies before being used in commercial ways, so you can enjoy medical-grade red light therapy at home.
LED therapy technology is becoming more popular because it produces longer-lasting results without discomfort or phototoxicity. However, make sure to read the instructions carefully and follow them properly to get the most out of your light therapy device. With a three-year warranty for each of Bestqool devices, you can trust us.
