Red Light Therapy Masks - are they a Gimmick?
Red light therapy has taken over social media, and you’ve probably seen devices advertised on your feed from masks to panels, and everything in between—including boxes, beds, wands, and even pimple patches.
Seeing so many products can be confusing and even tempting, especially when you think about multitasking with that mask you saw on Emily in Paris.
Masks and panels (or boxes like LUMEBOX) stand out as the most popular choices.
At first glance, these two treatments appear similar (just for different body parts), but they differ significantly in how well they work. Read on to learn why.
What even is Red Light Therapy (RLT)?
Red light therapy (you may know it as Low-Level Light Therapy or Photobiomodulation - phototherapy is slightly different) uses two concentrated wavelengths in the red (visible light) and the near-infrared range (invisible to the human eye).
Red: Great for superficial concerns like skin health or surface wounds.
Near-infrared: Great for deeper muscles and joints.
As opposed to laser treatment which is typically found in a clinic, red light therapy uses LED lights to provide a safer, more affordable, at-home approach, with slightly different use cases.
What are Red Light Therapy Masks?
Red light therapy masks are becoming an attractive beauty treatment for fine lines, blemishes, and signs of aging. In the work-from-home era, they add a convenient 20-minute red light facial session to your routine.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows when it comes to masks. Let’s take a look...
Masks vs LUMEBOX
The red light therapy market is saturated with hundreds of options, making it challenging to choose one best fit for your needs.
Here’s what you need to know:
Wavelength
Masks: Some masks now deliver a variety of colors (and wavelengths) like red, near-infrared, and blue. There are also options available in yellow, amber, green, and purple. These other wavelengths do not have as much scientific research backing them, so it's important to do your own research before purchasing - for example, studies have observed hyperpigmentation [1, 2] and delayed recovery of the skin [3] after using blue light therapy. Not to mention, blue light may interfere with sleep [4].
LUMEBOX: Delivers red (660 nm) and near-infrared (850 nm), which are two of the most thoroughly researched wavelengths shown to be effective in red light therapy.
Power & Time
Masks: Since masks are for the face only, they deliver light at a low irradiance to target the surface level of the skin. This means they tend to require longer treatment times… and some have such low irradiance that you need to use them for 20+ minutes to see any benefit at all!
LUMEBOX: Delivers a high irradiance (~125 mW/cm2 for red light and ~140 mW/cm2 for near-infrared light). Higher power densities enable a shorter treatment time - so you only need 5 minutes of light on the face to feel the same benefits as a well-powered mask. LUMEBOX is also best set up 5 inches from the face, to dial down the irradiance to around 50 mW/cm2 - an ideal dose for surface skin.
For glowing skin, a mask may need to be worn for 10-30 minutes every day, whereas LUMEBOX only needs to be used for 5 minutes. Great for holding you accountable during a short decompressing breathwork! That’s what we call time-saving!
Range of Benefits
Masks: It’s pretty obvious that the mask is designed for the face, and the face only. It can’t be used for any other areas of the body, despite what Instagram and YouTube influencers might be telling you…
Myth debunk: Your RLT mask cannot double as a hair growth helmet. Despite social media claims, the irradiance from these masks is too low. Hair growth studies typically use higher irradiance lasers or LEDs.
The same goes for wrapping the mask around muscles like the legs or the arms. The wavelengths in a weakly powered mask is not likely to penetrate and reach the muscle tissue, joints, tendons, or subcutaneous fat like with a higher powered device (like LUMEBOX).
LUMEBOX: LUMEBOX is designed not only for a full-face treatment, but it can be used on any part of the body, targeting not just the surface layer of the skin, but reaching deeper into the tissues to support muscles, tissues, and joints too.
Cost
Why spend the same amount of money on just a facial treatment when you can energize your mitochondria across the whole body for the same price?
LUMEBOX offers a diverse range of use cases, from the skin to muscles, joints, wounds, hair - whatever you need!
How to Choose a Good Red Light Therapy Device:
To experience the benefits of red light therapy, you need to get a quality device you can trust. Make sure the device you pick is:
- FDA registered for at least Class II Safety.
- 3rd party tested for irradiance (meaning it is powerful enough to penetrate the skin barrier).
- Emits red (630-660 nm) and near-infrared (810-850 nm) light wavelengths - LUMEBOX delivers 660 nm and 850 nm which are two optimal wavelengths.
- Multi-modal - in other words, it can be used for more than just the face like a mask! A lot of people prefer to opt for this to get the most bang for their buck.
- Portability - what distinguishes LUMEBOX from other devices is its portability. You can easily take LUMEBOX to the gym, in the car, to work, and even on vacation, ensuring you have access to this versatile Swiss Army tool of wellness wherever you go.
New to red light therapy? Download our free eBook to help you choose the best device.
Already have a LUMEBOX? Download our 6 time-saving tricks guide!
Medical Disclaimer: The information contained in this blog post is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as medical advice. Everyone responds to light differently. Testimonials are not a guarantee of the results you or anyone who uses LUMEBOX will get because your success depends entirely on your circumstances, and the studies on red light therapy shared were not specifically performed using LUMEBOX. Please check with your doctor before using red light therapy and do not change your medical treatments or lifestyle without consulting your physician first.
References:
[1] Falcone D., Uzunbajakava N.E., van Abeelen F., Oversluizen G., Peppelman M., van Erp P.E.J., van de Kerkhof P.C.M. Effects of blue light on inflammation and skin barrier recovery following acute perturbation. Pilot study results in healthy human subjects. Photodermatol. Photoimmunol. Photomed. 2018;34:184–193. doi: 10.1111/phpp.12367.
[2] Jagdeo, J., Austin, E., Mamalis, A., Wong, C., Ho, D., & Siegel, D. M. (2018). Light‐emitting diodes in dermatology: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Lasers in surgery and medicine, 50(6), 613-628.
[3] Denda, M., & Fuziwara, S. (2008). Visible radiation affects epidermal permeability barrier recovery: selective effects of red and blue light. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 128(5), 1335-1335.
[4] Chang, A. M., Santhi, N., St Hilaire, M., Gronfier, C., Bradstreet, D. S., Duffy, J. F., Lockley, S. W., Kronauer, R. E., & Czeisler, C. A. (2012). Human responses to bright light of different durations. The Journal of physiology, 590(13), 3103–3112. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2011.226555
