Musings RSS

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...

Read more

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...

Read more

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...

Read more

Red Light Therapy and (Facial) Fat Loss

Red Light Therapy and (Facial) Fat Loss

Red Light Therapy has been utilized in human clinical trials to support spot fat reduction, body contouring, and weight management. As such, Red Light Therapy holds great potential to be used for the obesity epidemic.  However, marketing of these weight loss claims is often so heavy-handed that the consumer must assume spontaneous fat loss is a common side effect of Red Light Therapy. Red Light Therapy is often utilized on the face for anti-aging benefits, wrinkle reduction, acne management, and overall complexion benefits. [1][2] However, there are now concerns that it may result in unwanted facial fat loss.   As always, Red Light Therapy presents a...

Read more

Deep Tissue Red Light Therapy Dosing: Does High Intensity Increase Penetration?

Deep Tissue Red Light Therapy Dosing: Does High Intensity Increase Penetration?

Improving the penetration of light into the skin is a key area for direct treatments with Photobiomodulation. However, many of the effects from Red Light Therapy are systemic in nature, particularly from non-contact LED panels that inherently have poor penetration. Meaning that even if the light doesn't directly penetrate deep enough, deeper tissues can benefit through indirect mechanisms.  Which is why adhering to proper dosing protocols is more important than maxing out the penetration depth to speculatively deliver better results.  Through the years, influencers have insisted that high intensity is essential for deep tissue treatments. These claims rarely come with citations or...

Read more

Tags