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Can You Do Red Light Therapy Everyday? Facts and Tips

Date

Updated Mar 13, 2025

Reading Time

8 Min

Article by

David Johnson

What Is Red Light Therapy?

RLT, or low-level laser therapy (LLLT), is the therapeutic use of red and near-infrared light wavelengths. It is also known as photobiomodulation. Red light devices use light-emitting diodes (LED) that produce wavelengths of red light, which you expose on your skin; that is why it is also known as LED light therapy.

The skin absorbs the light and allows it to penetrate deeper into the tissues. Cells in the skin and tissue absorb the light into the organelles, stimulating biochemical reactions. In general, red light helps the cells to work better at fighting conditions naturally.

How Often Should You Do Red Light Therapy?

Several factors determine how often you should do red light therapy for better skin health and other issues:

1. Device Irradiance

Different red light therapy devices have varying irradiance or power output, measured in mW/cm2. Irradiance affects the intensity and dosage during a session. You should check your device output levels and follow the instructions on usage. Models with low irradiance levels require more time than those with high output levels.

2. Target Treatment Area

The target area of treatment on your body determines the dosage. Skin treatment needs a lower dose than deeper tissues like joints and muscles. Sensitive areas like the face require limited exposure.

3. Age and Health

Younger and healthier individuals can tolerate more frequent sessions. However, older adults or those with underlying medical conditions may not be comfortable with extended use of red light therapy.

4. Skin Sensitivity

Persons with sensitive skin need to start with shorter sessions and increase the duration and frequency as they get used to the therapy. Although red light has no known serious side effects, overuse can cause irritation and some skin damage, especially if you have sensitive skin.

5. Specific Goals

Your intended outcome effects determine the frequency of using red light therapy. For example, treating a targeted medical condition will require longer sessions and more frequency than therapy for general wellness.

6. Doctor's Advice

Always follow your healthcare such as dermatologist provider's recommendations, especially for specific health conditions.

How Long Should Each Red Light Therapy Session Be?

As mentioned earlier, the device irradiance determines the length of a session. The recommended red light therapy session is 10-20 minutes per session. However, you must follow your device's instructions to achieve optimal results during therapy.

Another thing to note is the positioning of the device during therapy. The closer you are, the more irradiance you get, increasing absorption and shortening your session time. However, if you are targeting the whole body, you may need to step back to cover a more extensive treatment area, increasing the session time.

Is There a Best Time for Red Light Therapy?

There is no fixed time for red light therapy. You need to choose a time that fits your schedule. Morning sessions can boost your energy for the day, while after-work sessions can help you relax for sleep.

Red light therapy before workouts will enhance your performance. Having therapy sessions after workouts will help you recover.

Many people prefer multitasking during their RLT sessions. To save time, you can relax with a book while enjoying soothing music during your therapy session. You can also add candles and use furniture to help you relax.

Benefits of Red Light Therapy

The benefits of red light therapy in our bodies include:

1. Boosting Energy Production

As red light gets absorbed into the mitochondria, it increases adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in the cells. ATP is the cells' energy or fuel. More energy helps the cells rejuvenate and work better at healing and fighting diseases.

2. Collagen Production

Most people commonly associate collagen with skincare. However, collagen is a protein in most body tissue cells, including bones, tendons, and muscles. In the skin, collagen helps to increase elasticity by lifting and tightening lax skin, thus reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

3. Blood Circulation

Red light helps the blood vessels in circulation. Increased blood circulation means more nutrients, oxygen supply, and removal of toxic waste. RLT therapy contributes to angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) and increases fibroblasts in the skin, helping heal wounds.

Here are some of the conditions you can treat using red light therapy:

● Wound healing and tissue repair
● Reduction in some cancer treatment side effects like radiation dermatitis, lymphedema, and oral mucositis
● Improving your hair growth for people with androgenic alopecia
● Short-term treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
● Reducing myopia progression
● Reducing psoriasis in the treatment of scars
● It helps improve cognition for people with Alzheimer's by improving neural function and protection.
● Build up collagen that helps improve skin complexion and diminish wrinkles
● It helps relieve chronic pain and inflammation in Achilles tendon

Things to Keep in Mind When Using Red Light Therapy

The effectiveness of red light therapy depends on the type and quality of your device. When seeking an at-home use RLT device, look for a device with the correct specifications per your doctor's prescription.

Here is what to look for when choosing a red light device for use at home:

1. Size

Choose a large, powerful panel such as the RedliteX Pro series for full-body treatments. The device can output using seven wavelengths and help treat multiple conditions.

2. Wavelength

Choose a device with both red and NIR wavelengths. Red light with a 600 to 650 nanometers wavelength is best for treating skin conditions. NIR has wavelengths of 800 to 850 nanometers and penetrates deeper to address issues like inflammation and other tissue concerns.

3. Irradiance

It measures your device's power density or the amount of light energy delivered to the skin, measured in milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm2). A panel with higher irradiance delivers more power, ensuring a deeper penetration and absorption of the light photons.

4. No. of LEDS

More LEDs increase the efficiency of light emission. They also help to distribute the light uniformly during therapy.

5. EMF and Flicker Free

Flickering LEDs cause eye discomfort and strain. It also disrupts light distribution and reduces the device's effectiveness.

6. FDA-Certified

Choose a device that has health regulatory authorities' certification, such as Food and Drug Administration: Approved devices are the ones that have been tested and show no negative impact on human health.

The things to keep in mind when using red light therapy at home are:

● Position of the device
● Proper preparation before therapy
● Stick to session time
● Ensure consistency in use
● Use sunscreen after therapy
● Hydrate your skin before therapy

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Red light therapy offers a noninvasive treatment option for many conditions. However, you need to follow your doctor's recommendations and be consistent in its use for optimal results.

Ensure you acquire a device that has FDA approval for at-home use. Look for a device that offers multiple wavelengths for use at home.

Ensure you read and understand the manufacturer's instructions and follow them. Do not overuse red light therapy. Overuse can give rise to other problems like skin burns. If your device recommends eye protection, wear goggles during therapy sessions.

References

1. BlockBlueLight (). Red Light Therapy: How Often Should You Be Doing It?

2. Health Light (2023, March 28). How Often Should You Do Red Light Therapy?

3. Cleveland Clinic (). LED Light Therapy

4. RedLiteX (2025, February 5) How to Use Red Light Therapy at Home: Device Choice vs Treatment Options

5. Redlitex ()Redlitex Pro Series

Article by

David Johnson

David Johnson is a co-founder of RedliteX and a healthcare professional with extensive experience in red light therapy. He specializes in the research and application of red light therapy panels for therapeutic and wellness purposes, with a deep understanding of the science behind light-based treatments. Committed to education and evidence-based insights, he focuses on how red light therapy can support healing, pain management, recovery, and overall well-being.

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LEDs:

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Wavelengths:

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Can You Do Red Light Therapy Everyday? Facts and Tips

In This Article

What Is Red Light Therapy?

How Often Should You Do Red Light Therapy?

1. Device Irradiance

2. Target Treatment Area

3. Age and Health

4. Skin Sensitivity

5. Specific Goals

6. Doctor's Advice

How Long Should Each Red Light Therapy Session Be?

Is There a Best Time for Red Light Therapy?

Benefits of Red Light Therapy

1. Boosting Energy Production

2. Collagen Production

3. Blood Circulation

Things to Keep in Mind When Using Red Light Therapy

1. Size

2. Wavelength

3. Irradiance

4. No. of LEDS

5. EMF and Flicker Free

6. FDA-Certified

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

References

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