Understanding Irradiance and Red Light Therapy

One of the questions we get asked a lot centers around how much irradiance is too much for red light therapy. It can seem daunting to figure out how much light intensity one should be using for their unique needs. But, we’re here to help! 

The answer to the question above is not incredibly complex, but it’s not exactly simple, either. After all,  people use red light therapy for an incredibly wide range of issues. All of these different people have different needs and will require different levels of time spent in front of the device, as well as different levels of light intensity. 

It’s very important to understand which dosage is best for your condition so that you can get the most out of your therapy. We’ll look at some of the science behind what we’re talking about here and provide you with a handy guide to establishing how much irradiance you should be using during your red light therapy sessions. Let’s go! 

What is red light therapy irradiance? 

What is this thing called irradiance, anyway? When we talk about the term irradiance in red light therapy, what we’re talking about is the intensity of the light coming from the therapy device. To measure the emission, the measurement is typically done by looking at milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm²). 

Why is this measurement so important? It’s because this measurement will directly influence one’s biological response to red light therapy. When the light intensity is high, this means that more light is being sent to the target areas, which may dictate the results of the therapy.

We’ll come back to this later because it’s going to be an important part of showing you how to measure the intensity and distance of your device during a therapy session. 

But first, we need to talk about a few other very important things. 

How much is too much irradiance? 

You could be reading this article, wondering about how this affects your specific condition. Research on red light therapy has shown that there can be some really promising health benefits. We’ve had many people tell us about the great results they’re getting when using it to treat wounds, getting a muscle recovery boost, dealing with painful joints, and other types of pain. 

To get that relief, they have all had to find the right balance when it comes to irradiance levels. 

If you’re like me, it’s possible that you’ve taken three pain relief pills when the side of the bottle clearly says that you should take two. Obviously, one should never take more than what is prescribed, but—and speaking just for myself now—there can be a belief that more than what is prescribed means faster or better. 

The same principle applies to red light therapy. You might think that getting a higher intensity is going to mean that you’re going to promote faster healing or better recovery times. The truth is that one needs to find the right balance to get the most out of the therapy.

The right level of light intensity is going to be dependent on a few more factors than just the condition you’re dealing with. What’s your sensitivity to light? Are you dealing with skin issues, or tissues, joints, or organs? It’s likely that if your issue is with your skin, you’ll need less intensity than if you’re dealing with something like joint pain. 

In fact, some research finds that there is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to pumping up the irradiance levels. Like always, our first suggestion is that you talk to a healthcare professional who can guide you through the right levels and the distance from the light needed to get the most out of your therapy. 

Three ways to ensure correct irradiance levels 

Knowing what we know about getting your irradiance levels wrong, we want to be sure that you know how to be safe when you start your treatment. Here are some tips for getting started and to make sure that you’re getting the right levels as your treatment progresses. 

1. Talk to your doctor

You’re going to see this as our first recommendation whenever we talk about the ways that you can make sure your treatment is being done correctly. Your doctor or healthcare professional will be able to look into your unique requirements and create a treatment plan that includes the correct levels of irradiance. This will all be based on your medical history, any pre-existing skin issues, and what your goals are for treatment. 

2. Use the highest quality devices available

Rouge red light therapy products go through stringent testing. The products are read by solar meter measurements, and also The Light Lab International, a reputable testing lab that helps us to make sure that our customers are getting the highest quality red light therapy devices. You can get access to all of our lab data here under the heading, Lab Reports.  

3. Start your treatment carefully

When you're new to a treatment like red light therapy, make sure to begin with low irradiance levels and short sessions. You can gradually increase the intensity as you go along and find out how much you can tolerate. You’ll give your body a chance to get used to the treatment this way. Then, you can slowly start to increase the intensity, if required, so that you get an idea of what’s best for your situation. 

If you find that the intensity is too much for you, you can increase the distance between yourself and the panel. Similarly, you can use the dimming function that all Rouge devices have to fine tune the intensity of the light. 

Use the Rouge Red Light Therapy Dosage Calculator

As every device is different and every person’s requirements are unique, we’ve assembled a handy dosage calculator that you can use to calculate the light intensity you should be using, as well as the distance of the device from your skin. 

You can find the calculator here. 

You’ll find three areas that you can input:

- Desired dosage in joules/cm2
- Rouge panel
- Distance in inches

The output will tell you the irradiance level those settings will provide and how long your therapy should last. 

Skin issues will generally require between three to 15 joules per session, while deeper issues like bones, glands, joints, etc, will need 10 to 40 joules. You’ll find more in-depth information underneath the calculator. 

Note that you should pay special attention to the distance required for your issue. A device that is three inches away will cover a smaller area than the same one at 10 inches, so you will need to adjust your time settings to compensate. 

Whatever your issue, make sure to follow the guidelines we’ve suggested above, make use of our handy calculator, and make sure to start slow and stay safe!