Which light do I actually need?
Red for the face if you can only have one. Red plus near-infrared for anything below the neck or for recovery. Everything else on a 7-colour wheel is decoration.
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The light wing · 0 devices
Mats, masks, panels, belts, wands, eye patches and scalp caps all sell on the same three words: red light therapy. The wavelength decides whether a device can do anything. Here they are, grouped by wavelength and by the part of you they are built for, with the studied numbers next to each one.
| Wavelength | Name | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 630 to 660 nm | Red | Upper skin layers. Tone, texture and fine lines over eight to twelve weeks. |
| 810 to 850 nm | Near-infrared | Deeper. Recovery, inflammation, collagen support in combined-wavelength studies. Invisible; you feel gentle warmth. |
Before you buy
Red for the face if you can only have one. Red plus near-infrared for anything below the neck or for recovery. Everything else on a 7-colour wheel is decoration.
More LEDs at the right wavelengths, close to the skin, mean more dose per minute. More colours mean a brighter light show. Count diodes at 630 to 660 and 810 to 850 nm; ignore the rest.
At consumer powers, red and near-infrared are not. Keep eyes closed or shielded under any bright LED, and if you have melasma talk to a doctor before adding heat and light to your face.
Eight to twelve weeks of three to five sessions a week. A device that promises seven days is selling the photograph.
Longer answers: is red light therapy a scam, the five specs that decide it, real wrap or heating pad, how long and how often, darker skin tones.