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Sun Light Therapy Through Clothing! How Much Light Penetrates Clothes?

Sun Light Therapy Through Clothing! How Much Light Penetrates Clothes?

Should you wear clothing during Red Light Therapy? No, Red Light Therapy should be applied to bare skin for the most consistent dosing.  However, it is often recommended to get light therapy from sunlight. Unfortunately in many places we are unable to enjoy sunlight fully exposed in bare skin.  The culture demands modesty when outdoors or in public places. This causes many people prefer to do light therapies indoors where they can be comfortable without clothing.  To motivate people to go outside for sunlight, it is often claimed that Near-Infrared light or Sunlight can penetrate clothing. But how much sunlight...

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2025 State of Full-Body Red Light Therapy Research: Mad Science

2025 State of Full-Body Red Light Therapy Research: Mad Science

What does the peer-reviewed literature have to say about Whole Body LED Red Light Therapy? Not much, actually.  It should be shocking to learn that there are very few published studies specifically on whole body red light therapy. Whenever we find a new article on the topic, it is quite a treat.  On January 30th, 2025 - a new systematic review published looking at the effects of Whole-Body Red Light Therapy on sports exercise performance and recovery. Title below: "A systematic review on whole-body photobiomodulation for exercise performance and recovery" [1] PMID: 39883205 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39883205/ Red and NIR Light Therapy holds great promise...

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How Wavelength Affects Dosing For Red Light Therapy: The Weight of Photonic Energy

How Wavelength Affects Dosing For Red Light Therapy: The Weight of Photonic Energy

PBM researchers have recently introduced new Red Light Therapy dosing variables that promise to be more consistent and universal! They have the potential to reduce the variability of dosing values, and to reconcile the effects from different wavelengths.  The secret is that precision dosing is now weighted by Photonic Energy. The new dosing system recognizes that shorter wavelengths will have stronger biological effects than longer wavelengths. In other words, shorter wavelengths will require less J/cm^2 weighted by their higher energy per photon. Longer wavelengths require more J/cm^2 to compensate for their lower energy per photon.  Introduction: There are many variables...

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750nm & 950nm: The Worst Wavelengths for Red Light Therapy

750nm & 950nm: The Worst Wavelengths for Red Light Therapy

Which wavelengths of Red or Near-Infrared light are the best? The debate may rage on for decades as the research continues, although we have some good evidence for wavelengths like 810nm, 830nm, and 1060nm so far. Photobiomodulation has primarily focused on Red and Near-Infrared wavelengths between 600-1100nm due to their proven safety, efficacy, deep penetration, and beneficial mechanisms. To help us determine the best wavelengths, perhaps we should use the process-of-elimination to consider the worst wavelengths.  Are there any wavelengths that should be avoided? Perhaps due to a lack of benefits, safety concerns, inconclusive evidence, or inhibitory cellular responses. Summary: While many...

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Inverse Square Law Conundrums in Red Light Therapy: Can Intensity Increase With Distance?

Inverse Square Law Conundrums in Red Light Therapy: Can Intensity Increase With Distance?

What is the optimal distance to use a Red Light Therapy panel? After years of consideration, it feels more like a philosophical question than a technical question. Firstly, assuming we are properly informed about the skin contact method and choose use devices at a distance anyway.  The real goal to to obtain the appropriate intensity landing on the skin, and we can adjust the distance accordingly. The "gold standard" distance of 6 inches away is not evidence based, but was a convenient guideline for the LED panels back in 2017-2019. Now, modern LED panels are more powerful and complex.  The relationship between intensity and distance is...

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