Not All RLT Devices Are The Same. Here's Why:

I’ve recently received several questions about the Lumebox and why I chose this red light therapy device over others? This is an EXCELLENT question because there are hundreds, if not thousands of options out there, so what should YOU be looking for? Here’s a small checklist:

Light options
Wavelength
Irradiance
Usability
Safety

Let me go a bit deeper on each of these (though I could go into length on them, so I’ll try to keep it brief):

LIGHT OPTIONS:

With the Lumebox, it offers BOTH RED and NIR (near-infrared) light. Think of it this way: RED is the light you can see, so it’s for surface (skin, wounds, wrinkles, anything you can see, etc.). NIR is for INside (Infrared) – things you can’t see, so anything under the skin (joints, muscles, gut, immune system, etc.).

The point: Some only offer RED, which is fine, if that’s all you want to use it for. Lumebox offers BOTH.

WAVELENGTH:

Think EFFECTIVENESS. How deep or how strong does the light go? Quality devices will have a RED wavelength of around 660 nm and NIR wavelength around 850nm. The stronger the wavelength, the deeper it can penetrate.

The point: If the wavelength isn’t strong enough, it’s not going to do what you want it to do.

IRRADIANCE:

Think INTENSITY. If the LED lights are not efficient, then it won’t be beneficial. Now, irradiance will change, the further away you hold your device. At one centimeter, the Lumebox delivers 125 mW/cm² for red light and 140 mW/cm² for near-infrared (NIR) light. Now this intensity will change at a further distance and one might not need that much intensity for what they are using it for.

The point: If your irradiance is too low, the cells will not respond to the light because there isn’t enough power. Irradiance matters.

USABILITY:

Because there are umpteen options when it comes to red light therapy, it depends on what you want to use yours for. For instance, the Lumebox is a hand-held device, so I can use it ANYWHERE on my body. Some RLT devices are only for the face or a certain joint.

The point: Make sure you get enough bang for your buck by being able to use it for diverse reasons – you never know what you’ll need it for next!

SAFETY:

This one is HUGE, but often the most overlooked “checkbox”. What research has been done on the device you are looking at? Is it FDA-approved? What certifications does it have? Has it been 3rd party tested? (Which means the group has no ties to the company, and therefore, no biases or agendas). You can buy a RLT device off Temu, but the likelihood of it being tested for ANY of these reasons is most likely slim to none. This is why you get what you pay for. The Lumebox has gone under significant testing and this is why it is safe:

FDA-approved (registered as a Class II medical device)
Low EMF (electromagnetic field) at 0 centimeters
Automatically shuts off
Meets IEC safety standards (global guidelines determining safety of usage and reliability)
Has 6 and 12 minute timers

The point: If the device you choose isn’t safe to use, you could be causing more harm than good!

Even though red light therapy seems like a trend, and EVERYONE is offering a device, the takeaway is this: NOT ALL RED LIGHT THERAPY DEVICES ARE THE SAME. I strongly encourage you to do your research. I’ve had several people send me a device they are looking into, to help guide them, and the list above is what I look for!