Irradiance in red light therapy refers to the strength of the light that reaches your skin, measured in milliwatts per square centimeter ( mw/cm²).
Yes, it's important to have a device with enough power for effective treatment, but you don't need to worry too much about this.
Most reputable brands offer devices that are powerful enough for therapy, except for some really inexpensive options found on platforms like Amazon.
There is a myth going around that the higher the power of your light, the better it is for you.
This is only true to a degree, and the industry has reached that degree.
The absolute upper limit you want with your red light device is 100 mw/cm².
The sun is on average 100 mw/cm² in sunny countries, you do not need a light stronger than the sun!
A higher irradiance, they say, means more energy, which can lead to better treatment results, in a shorter time.
While this is sort of true, again, only up to 100 mw/cm², and after that, it's overkill.
However, some devices claim very high irradiance levels, like 200 mw/cm².
These numbers are often measured with solar meters, which can give misleadingly high readings.
Solar meters are not the most accurate way to measure light therapy devices.
The better method is using spectrometers or laser meters, which give a more accurate reading of the light's power.
The key thing about irradiance is that it indicates how much light energy you're getting from the device.
When you have an accurate number on how much power comes from your light, you then can do a complicated calculation to figure out how long to use it for and from how far away.
Don’t worry, we’ve done all the mathematics on this and we just give you the answers in our free guides, delivered to your inbox when you order.
In summary, while having a powerful enough device is important, most major brands you'll buy from are likely to meet the necessary power requirements.
What they don’t know is how to tell you how to use them properly.
We do, in our free guides.
Remember, you want something less than 100 mw/cm², ideally around 50 - 80 mw/cm², depending on the way you use the device and the goal you have in mind.
The more important aspect to focus on is learning how to use the device properly to get the best benefits.
(Our devices are tested with accurate tools (some in a lab, some in house) to ensure they provide the right amount of power for us to be able to guide you how to use the lights properly)