The number of red light therapy treatments you need depends on what you are getting treatment for. But you will likely need ongoing sessions for weeks or even months. Can you overdo red light therapy? Red light therapy is generally safe, but at very high strengths of light, skin redness and blistering can occur.
It has an exceptional safety profile. In fact, you can't overdo LED light therapy. Overuse won't cause burning or damage to the skin, but it won't fast-track your results, either.
Unlike the cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or tanning booths, RLT doesn't use this type of light. However, if products are misused — perhaps used too often or not according to directions — there's a chance your skin or eyes (if not protected) could be damaged.
Most red light therapy devices recommend 10-20-minute sessions, so 30 minutes might be too long. Longer exposure can cause skin irritation, so it doesn't necessarily work better.
The good news is that it's generally safe for daily use as it's a gentle, non-invasive treatment that doesn't damage your skin even with frequent sessions.
As a consequence of light therapy, patients can complain of irritability, headaches, eye strain, sleep disturbances, and insomnia.
What should I put on my face before LED light therapy? Before using an LED mask, it is recommended to start with a clean and dry face. Remove any makeup, dirt, or impurities from the skin through gentle cleansing.
Yes! Red light therapy is generally considered safe for daily use, and many individuals use it on a daily basis to treat various conditions. However, it's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions for your specific device as these can vary quite a bit.
For most conditions, three sessions per day for 20 minutes each can be sufficient to achieve significant benefits. However, some people may require longer or more frequent sessions to achieve the desired results. Performing three treatments of 20 minutes a day should work best and longer than this could be damaging.
Most people feel nothing at all, but rarely some may experience mild transient jaw aching, headache and/or nausea. Theoretically “die-off” reactions (temporary flu-like symptoms) are also possible. However to date, there have been no known serious side effects of photobiomodulation.
Infrared Therapy: Infrared therapy, such as red light therapy, focuses on stimulating collagen production and can be used for skin tightening. It's non-invasive, generally safe, and can be done in short sessions. Results are gradual and may require multiple sessions.
You may need a treatment each week for about a month. Then you might need maintenance treatments every month or every few months. Some at-home devices may also require a substantial time commitment. You might need to use your device twice a day for 30 to 60 minutes for four to five weeks.
You do not need to wear eye protection goggles, however, some people prefer to so we do include a pair of plastic eye goggles that don't let any light through at all. Some studies have shown red and near infrared light to actually be quite beneficial to the eyes.
LED Light Therapy is safe for most people and difficult to overuse. However, if you experience any unexpected results, discontinue use and consult your physician.
With lower power LED devices (e.g. 10mW/cm2) 30 minute sessions twice a day may be needed and may still not be enough for a good result. In any case, even 10 minutes of even low intensity LED treatment are better than nothing. However, for optimum and/or fast results, relatively higher light intensities will be needed.
Avoid using any topical products that contain retinoids or alpha-hydroxy acids for at least a week after your treatment unless advised otherwise.
Please refrain from using cell phones or other electronic devices during the treatment. For most people, light therapy is best used in the morning, after first waking up.
There is a low risk of side effects from undergoing RLT. However, prolonged or high-intensity exposure outside of treatment guidelines may damage the skin. Products for use at home may also lead to misuse, causing burns, blisters or damage to unprotected eyes.
What should I do after my session? Hydrate! Water is essential for cellular processes, and your cells will be hard at work after PBM.
Very Important Warning. There is a sweet spot for treatment with red light. The maximum amount of time you should expose your body to this concentrated red light is 15-20 minutes a day.
Potential benefits of red light therapy
"There is no doubt that red light can be very, very beneficial to skin," Nazarian said. She said there are "a lot of studies on red light" but that additional, more standardized studies are still needed. "What it's actually doing is stimulating the cells to create new energy.
Red and Infrared Laser Therapy and LED light therapy have proven effective at eliminating puffiness around the eyes. Red 660nm monochromatic light from a laser triggers the body to produce new skin cells and collagen causing the skin around the eye to become noticeably smoother.