Below is a concise yet comprehensive guide to help customers understand key light therapy terminologies, calculate accurate light therapy doses, and address common misconceptions. While we are proud of the products we create, it’s important to note that these dosages are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness. Beam designs wellness devices to support overall well-being.
Below are the topics outlined in this review:
- What is a “dose” in Light Therapy?
- How do we calculate dose?
- Points of Clarification
- “Panels are more powerful—some even need special outlets!”
- “LED masks don’t work.”
- “You can get it from the sun.
- "You can get too much or too little light therapy.
- How Beam Products Measure Up
- Dosing Ranges Seen in Peer-Reviewed Scientific Literature
What Is a “Dose” in Light Therapy?
Definition - In light therapy (often called photobiomodulation), a “dose” refers to the amount of light energy delivered per square centimeter of skin.
Key Terms
Joule (J): Unit of energy
Power Density:
- Measured in Watts per cm² (W/cm²).
- Sometimes called “intensity” or “irradiance."
Dose:
- Measured in Joules/cm² (J/cm²).
- The product of power density and time.
- When we say J/cm², we are measuring how much energy is delivered per square centimeter of skin.
- An easy analogy is to think of J/cm² like milligrams of medication.
Wavelength:
- Measured in nanometers (nm).
- Different wavelengths (e.g., red at ~660 nm, near-infrared at ~850 nm) can have different effects on the skin and tissues.
How Do We Calculate the Dose?
Formula:
Example Problem:
A light meter held at 1.5 cm from the light source shows a power density of 0.005 W/cm². How many seconds should the light source be applied to the skin to give a 6 J/cm² dose of light therapy?
Calculation:
6 J/cm² = 0.005 W/cm² x Time (seconds)
Time (seconds) = 1,200 = 6 J/cm² / 0.005 W/cm²
Points of Clarification
A. Point of Clarification: “Panels are more powerful—some even need special outlets!”
- Why They Need More Power: Large panels typically use more LEDs and higher wattage, which can exceed the capacity of a standard outlet.
- Distance Matters: Remember that the further the light source is from the skin, the lower the power density. While the power density measured at 1 cm from a panel may be very high, the distance between the panel and the individual receiving light therapy is typically larger.
- Time Matters: Remember that time is a variable in calculating the dose. Less powerful devices can be used for longer periods of time to deliver the desired dose.
B. Point of Clarification: “LED masks don’t work.”
They Can Work—If the Dose Is Right: Check the actual device specs and calculate the dose. If an LED mask can deliver the dose to match clinically studied levels, it can be effective.
C. Point of Clarification: “You can get light therapy from the sun.”
Broad Spectrum Wavelengths
- Sunlight delivers a broad spectrum of light, including visible, infrared, and ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation is harmful and can lead to adverse health effects.
- Unlike sun therapy, light therapy delivers only the desired (non-harmful) wavelength(s) of light
Control and Dosage
- Sun exposure varies in intensity depending on many factors, including time of day, cloud cover, season, and geography.
- Unlike sun therapy, light therapy uses controlled conditions to deliver a desired dose of specific wavelengths of light to maximize therapeutic goals.
D. Point of Clarification: "You can get too much or too little light therapy."
Finding the Right Dose
- The Sweet Spot – Research suggests light therapy works best within a certain energy range, typically between 1 to 100 J/cm², depending on the goal.
- Lower doses (1–10 J/cm²) are often used for skin-related applications like facial treatments.
- Higher doses (10–100 J/cm²) are generally used for deeper tissues, such as muscles and joints.
Why Balance Matters
- Too Little? Not enough energy may mean the light doesn’t have a noticeable effect.
- Too Much? More isn’t always better—excess light exposure may actually reduce the intended benefits.
Light therapy is all about consistency and the right dose—sticking to recommended guidelines helps ensure you stay in the most effective range.
How Beam Products Measure Up
Product | Wavelength (nm) |
Time |
Power Density Range (W/cm²) | Average Dose (J/cm²) |
Beam Blanket Full Power | 660 & 850 | 30 Minutes |
0.003 - 0.02 |
20.7 |
Beam Blanket Lower Power | 660 & 850 | 60 Minutes | 0.0001 - 0.002 | 3.78 |
Mask Red with IR | 630 & 850 | 20 Minutes | 0.0006 - 0.0062 | 4.08 |
Mask Blue with IR | 460 & 850 | 20 Minutes | 0.0006 - 0.0077 | 4.98 |
Mask Yellow with IR | 590 & 850 | 20 minutes | 0.0004 - 0.0065 | 4.14 |
*The dose calculations reflect measurements taken at a distance of 0.5 cm from the skin. This distance accounts for natural gaps caused by body curvature, padding, or slight separation between the device and the skin during use. Measurements at 0.5 cm represent a realistic approximation of real-world usage, ensuring consistent and accurate delivery of light energy across the treated area.
Dosing Ranges Seen in Peer-Reviewed Scientific Literature
Biological Effect | Wavelength (nm) | Dose Range (J/cm²) | Notes | Study Reference |
Skin Rejuvenation | 600–650 | 1–10 | The treated subjects experienced significantly improved skin complexion and skin feeling, profilometrically assessed skin roughness, and ultrasonographically measured collagen density. | Avci et al., 2013. (PMID: 24049929) |
Pain Reduction (e.g., Joint Pain) | 800–850 | 10–60 | Higher doses penetrate deeper to reduce inflammation and alleviate chronic pain, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. | Stausholm et al., 2019. (PMID: 31662383) |
Wound Healing | 600–700 | 5–20 | A wound healing study in rats found that wounds exposed to 660 nm light resulted in increased angiogenesis (vascular formation), an essential part of the wound healing process. | Colombo et al, 2013. (PMID: 24173246) |
Muscle Recovery and Decreased Inflammation | 650–850 | 20–60 | Treated subjects increased muscle mass gained after training and decreased inflammation and oxidative stress in muscle biopsies. | Ferraresi et al, 2012. (PMID: 23626925) |
Acne Treatment (Blue Light) | 460 | 3–10 | Targets P. acnes bacteria, reducing inflammatory acne lesions. | Morton et al., 2005 (PMID: 16249142) |
Improvement of Post-Treatment Recovery (Yellow Light) | 590 | Not Specified | Application of a 590-nm LED array immediately after fractional laser resurfacing reduces the severity and duration of postoperative erythema. | Alster et al, 2009. (PMID: 19397672) |
Skin Calming and Repair (Yellow Light) | 590 | Not Specified | 590 nm LED light alone improved mitochondrial function, cellular proliferation, and the expression of healing-related proteins. | Chabert et al, 2015. (PBIM: 25597504) |
References
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Avci et al., 2013. (PMID: 24049929):
Avci P, Gupta A, Sadasivam M, Vecchio D, Pam Z, Pam N, Hamblin MR. Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2013 Mar;32(1):41-52. PMID: 24049929; PMCID: PMC4126803. -
Stausholm et al., 2019. (PMID: 31662383):
Stausholm MB, Naterstad IF, Joensen J, Lopes-Martins RÁB, Sæbø H, Lund H, Fersum KV, Bjordal JM. Efficacy of low-level laser therapy on pain and disability in knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials. BMJ Open. 2019 Oct 28;9(10):e031142. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031142. PMID: 31662383; PMCID: PMC6830679. -
Colombo F., 2013. (PMID: 24173246):
Colombo F, Neto Ade A, Sousa AP, Marchionni AM, Pinheiro AL, Reis SR. Effect of low-level laser therapy (λ660 nm) on angiogenesis in wound healing: a immunohistochemical study in a rodent model. Braz Dent J. 2013;24(4):308-12. doi: 10.1590/0103-6440201301867. PMID: 24173246. -
Ferraresi C., 2012. (PMID: 23626925):
Ferraresi C, Hamblin MR, Parizotto NA. Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) on muscle tissue: performance, fatigue and repair benefited by the power of light. Photonics Lasers Med. 2012 Nov 1;1(4):267-286. doi: 10.1515/plm-2012-0032. PMID: 23626925; PMCID: PMC3635110. -
Hamblin, 2017. (PMID: 28748217):
Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4(3):337-361. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337. Epub 2017 May 19. PMID: 28748217; PMCID: PMC5523874. -
Morton et al., 2005. (PMID: 16249142):
Morton CA, Scholefield RD, Whitehurst C, Birch J. An open study to determine the efficacy of blue light in the treatment of mild to moderate acne. J Dermatolog Treat. 2005;16(4):219-23. doi: 10.1080/09546630500283664. PMID: 16249142. -
Alster, 2009. (PMID: 19397672):
Alster TS, Wanitphakdeedecha R. Improvement of postfractional laser erythema with light-emitting diode photomodulation. Dermatol Surg. 2009 May;35(5):813-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2009.01137.x. Epub 2009 Apr 6. PMID: 19397672. -
Chabert, 2015. (PMID: 25597504):
Chabert R, Fouque L, Pinacolo S, Garcia-Gimenez N, Bonnans M, Cucumel K, Domloge N. Evaluation of light-emitting diodes (LED) effect on skin biology (in vitro study). Skin Res Technol. 2015 Nov;21(4):426-36. doi: 10.1111/srt.12210. Epub 2015 Jan 19. PMID: 25597504.