Is Your Red Light Panel Actually Working? The Irradiance Question

You're researching red light therapy panels. You visit a few websites. They all claim the same thing: "100+ mW/cm² at 30cm distance!" or even "150 mW/cm² at 6 inches!"

Sounds impressive. Sounds powerful. Sounds like you're getting therapeutic dosing.

Here's the problem: They're either lying, making it up, or using the wrong measurement equipment.

And if you buy based on those numbers, you're either getting zero benefit or overdosing into the biphasic response zone where benefits disappear.

Let me explain why irradiance data matters more than almost anything else when buying red light therapy devices, and why most sellers in Norway (and globally) are misleading you.

What Irradiance Actually Means

Irradiance is power density. It's measured in milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm²). This tells you how much light energy is hitting your skin per unit area.

Why does this matter? Because every single research study on photobiomodulation uses specific irradiance values to achieve specific effects. Too little? Nothing happens. Too much? You go over the peak of the dose-response curve and benefits disappear or reverse.

This is called the biphasic dose response, and it's one of the most well-documented phenomena in red light therapy research.

Think of it like cooking. The recipe says bake at 180°C for 30 minutes. If your oven is actually running at 120°C, your food won't cook properly. If it's running at 250°C, you'll burn everything. The temperature matters.

Irradiance is your "temperature" for red light therapy. Get it wrong, and nothing works correctly.

The Solar Meter Scam

Here's how most red light panel sellers generate their impressive-sounding numbers: They use solar meters.

Solar meters measure all visible light from roughly 400nm to 700nm. Some measure even broader spectrums. They're designed for measuring sunlight or grow lights, not therapeutic red light devices.

A solar meter will pick up:

• The red wavelengths you want (630-660nm)
• The near-infrared wavelengths you want (810-850nm)
• Ambient room lighting
• Reflections off walls and surfaces
• Potentially green, yellow, and orange wavelengths if the LEDs aren't narrow-band
• Basically anything emitting photons in the visible spectrum

So when someone claims "150 mW/cm² at 30cm" measured with a solar meter, they're giving you a completely useless number. That's like measuring the temperature of your oven by including the heat from your stove, your heating system, and the sun coming through the window.

It tells you nothing about the actual therapeutic wavelengths hitting your skin.

The Real Numbers (That Most Sellers Don't Want You To Know)

At Home Light Therapy, I test every panel with a professional spectrometer. Not a solar meter. A spectrometer that measures specific wavelengths individually and calculates irradiance for each therapeutic band.

Here's what real irradiance looks like for quality panels:

• At 15cm distance: 80-120 mW/cm² (combined red + NIR)
• At 30cm distance: 20-40 mW/cm² (combined red + NIR)
• At 45cm distance: 10-20 mW/cm² (combined red + NIR)

Notice something? These numbers are way lower than what most sellers claim. That's because these are real measurements of actual therapeutic wavelengths.

When another Norwegian seller claims "100+ mW/cm² at 30cm," they're either:

1. Using a solar meter (measuring everything, not just therapeutic wavelengths)
2. Making up numbers based on manufacturer claims they never verified
3. Measuring at an unrealistically close distance then claiming it's 30cm
4. Outright lying

I know which scenario applies to most sellers in Norway because I've tested their panels when customers brought them to me asking why they weren't getting results.

Why This Matters For Your Results

Let's say you read a research study showing that 850nm light at 40 mW/cm² for 10 minutes reduces knee pain. You want to replicate that protocol at home.

You buy a panel that claims "100+ mW/cm² at 30cm" but is actually delivering 15 mW/cm² of therapeutic wavelengths at that distance (because the seller used a solar meter or made up the number).

You stand 30cm away for 10 minutes thinking you're getting the research dose. You're actually getting less than half the therapeutic irradiance. Nothing happens. You conclude red light therapy doesn't work.

Or worse, you buy a genuinely powerful panel but the seller's measurements are so wrong that you use it too close or too long. You overdose into the biphasic response zone where cellular function actually gets suppressed rather than enhanced. You feel worse. You conclude red light therapy is harmful.

Both scenarios happen constantly. I've had dozens of customers come to me after wasting money on panels with fake irradiance claims.

The Biphasic Dose Response: Why More Isn't Better

This is critical to understand: Red light therapy follows a biphasic dose response curve. There's an optimal dose range where benefits are maximized. Below that range? Insufficient effect. Above that range? Benefits decrease or disappear entirely.

This has been demonstrated repeatedly in research. Low doses stimulate cellular function. Moderate doses maximize the effect. High doses suppress cellular function.

The exact curve depends on wavelength, tissue type, and treatment goal. But the principle is universal: You need to be in the therapeutic window.

Without accurate irradiance data, you have no idea where you are on that curve. You're flying blind.

At Home Light Therapy, when I sell you a panel, I provide:

• Actual measured irradiance at up to three key distances
• Specific wavelength breakdown (not just "red and NIR")
• Research parameters showing what studies used for positive results
• The information you need to calculate your own treatment times at various distances
• Guidelines for finding your personal therapeutic window

Here's the thing: Every panel varies in irradiance from the middle outwards. Everyone's biology is different. It would be foolish for me to say "everyone will benefit from 10 minutes at 30cm for knee pain."

That's not how this works.

I give you the measured irradiance data. I show you what the research suggests works. Then you experiment within those parameters to find your personal peak on the biphasic curve. You adjust distance. You adjust time. You pay attention to how your body responds.

This is about empowering you with accurate information, not following rigid protocols that may or may not suit your individual situation. Have fun with it. Find what works for you. That's the entire point.

How I Test (And Why It Matters)

I use a professional spectrometer to measure every panel I sell. This device measures irradiance at specific wavelengths across the spectrum.

When I test a 660nm LED, I'm measuring actual 660nm output. Not 660nm plus ambient light plus reflections plus other wavelengths. Just the therapeutic wavelength you're paying for.

I measure at up to three key distances that matter most for practical use. I verify that what the manufacturer claims matches reality (and reject panels when it doesn't).

Then I provide you with the data and context:

• Measured irradiance at each tested distance
• What research protocols used for specific conditions
• How to calculate your treatment time based on distance and desired dose
• Understanding that you'll need to experiment to find your personal therapeutic window

Because here's what most sellers won't tell you: Everyone is different. Your skin type, tissue density, condition severity, inflammation levels - all of this affects your optimal dose. Irradiance varies across the panel surface from center to edge.

Giving you one rigid protocol would be pointless. What I give you is the foundation: accurate measurements and research context. Then you explore within those parameters to find what works for your body.

This level of detail exists nowhere else in Norway. I know because I've checked what every other seller provides. Most give you nothing. Some provide manufacturer specs that they never verified. None provide measured data from actual testing.

Why do I go to this effort? Because I care whether red light therapy actually works for you. I don't just want to sell you a glowing box and hope for the best. I want you to get the results that research shows are possible.

Free Resources (Because Education Matters)

Unlike anyone else selling red light therapy in Norway, I provide extensive free educational content:

• Detailed blog posts explaining photobiomodulation mechanisms
• Research summaries on specific applications
• Protocol guides for different conditions
• Wavelength selection guides
• Troubleshooting advice when results aren't what you expected

Check the Home Light Therapy blog and you'll find more educational content than some paid courses provide.

Why? Because informed customers get better results. Better results mean they recommend Home Light Therapy to others. Better results mean red light therapy develops a reputation for working rather than being dismissed as pseudoscience.

This is how you build a sustainable business - by actually helping people rather than just taking their money.

What "Serious About Red Light Therapy" Actually Means

If you're serious about red light therapy, you need:

1. Accurate irradiance data - So you know what dose you're actually getting
2. Proper wavelength specifications - So you can match research protocols
3. Personalized guidance - So you use the device correctly for your situation
4. Ongoing support - So you can adjust protocols as needed

At Home Light Therapy, this is standard. Not an upsell. Not a premium tier. Standard.

When you contact me at LightTherapy.no, you get someone who has actually studied photobiomodulation research, tested dozens of devices, used red light therapy personally for years, and helped hundreds of Norwegians achieve results.

You don't get a generic email response or copy-pasted manufacturer information. You get specific advice based on your situation, measured data from actual testing, and protocols refined through seven years of practical experience.

This is why professional athletes in Norway and Turkey trust Home Light Therapy for their devices. This is why customers keep coming back when they need additional panels or devices for family members. This is why my reviews consistently mention the quality of information and support.

The Home Light Therapy Difference

Let me be direct: There is only one place to go if you're serious about red light therapy in Norway. That place is Home Light Therapy.

Not because I have some monopoly. But because I'm the only one providing:

• Measured irradiance data verified with professional equipment
• Wavelength specifications confirmed by spectrometry
• Personalized dosing parameters based on research
• Comprehensive educational resources
• Ongoing support from someone who actually understands this field

Every panel in my red light therapy collection has been personally tested. Every specification I provide has been verified. Every protocol I recommend is based on actual research or years of practical experience.

When you see another seller claiming "150 mW/cm² at 30cm" without showing you how they measured it or what wavelengths that includes, you should be immediately skeptical. Those numbers are fiction.

When you see Home Light Therapy providing detailed irradiance maps at multiple distances with specific wavelength breakdowns and dosing guidance, that's what real data looks like.

The Bottom Line

Red light therapy works when done correctly. The research is solid. The mechanisms are well-understood. The results are reproducible.

But "done correctly" requires accurate information about what dose you're actually receiving. Without proper irradiance data, you're guessing. And guessing means you're either leaving benefits on the table or overdosing past the therapeutic window.

Most red light panel sellers in Norway provide completely inaccurate irradiance claims. They use solar meters or made-up numbers. They give you no guidance on actual dosing. They disappear after the sale.

Home Light Therapy provides measured data, personalized parameters, comprehensive education, and ongoing support. This isn't marketing. This is how you actually help people get results.

If you're serious about red light therapy, there's really only one choice in Norway.

Check out the complete collection at LightTherapy.no. Every device tested. Every specification verified. Every protocol refined through years of experience.

Because after seven years of doing this, I'm absolutely certain: Accurate irradiance data isn't optional. It's the foundation of everything that follows.

Questions about irradiance measurements or which panel specifications make sense for your goals? Contact me directly. I'll provide actual measured data and specific parameters for your situation. Because that's what serious red light therapy requires.