You Don’t Need High Power: Why Less Near-Infrared Light Might Be More
You Don’t Need High Power: Why Less Near-Infrared Light Might Be More Effective for your needs.
When people talk about red light therapy, it often sounds like more is always better. More power. More LEDs. More intensity. We have all heard companies bragging about the strength of their panel, I have also done it!
But research doesn't always point in that direction— and it might suprise you just how little is needed to have real meaningful results.
Low Irradiance, Real Results
A 2022 study published in the Journal of the Formosan Medical Association found that near-infrared light at irradiance levels of under 3 mW/cm² can still activate cells and trigger biological responses. You can see in the image below just how well it worked by taking 4 days off the hospital stay.
That’s an incredibly small dose. Most commercial red light therapy panels—like the ones in our store—output 30, 50, or even 100 mW/cm² at close range.
Yet this study suggests you don’t need anywhere near that much to experience positive effects. This study was looking at covid patients that wore an LED vest that illuminated them with near infrared light. The key (I believe) is that the LEDs were skin contact LEDs like you would use on my wrap or from the torches that I offer. This skin contact method optimises light penetration.
Why Less May Sometimes Be More
Your body isn’t a black hole for light. I mean to an extent it is if you have lots of melanin..... that is a brilliant subject for another blog post! For this post, we focus on things. Namely, once your mitochondria absorb enough photons, more doesn’t mean better—it can even mean worse.
This concept is known as the biphasic dose-response: too little light has no effect, too much may reverse the benefit. But in between lies a sweet spot. And for near-infrared light, that sweet spot might be lower than expected.
That’s why low-dose photobiomodulation is gaining attention in both research and clinical use.
It is also why dose recommendations are very difficult to give out. Everyone is different, your melanin, your skin thickness, your fat mass, your stress levels, so much effects your very own "sweet spot".
So let us say we have found your sweet spot - what happens next and what did near infraed light do in the study mentioned above.
What Can Low-Level NIR Light Do?
At wavelengths like 810nm or 850nm, even low-level near-infrared light can:
- Boost ATP production in mitochondria
- Reduce local inflammation
- Improve microcirculation
- Support tissue healing and recovery
And it does all of that without overheating the skin or requiring long sessions at close range. In the study quoted, these results led to reduction in hospital stay and a quicker return to baseline (which is just fancy talk for normal)
How to Adjust Your Use
If you already own a high-powered red light panel, don’t worry—you’re not doing anything wrong at all. The wonderful thing is that it gives you options. Continue with higher power or reduce the power for potentially different positive effects.
Heres how to optimize your routine whilst using the light from further away:
- Increase your distance: Back away from the panel by 30–50 cm. This naturally reduces intensity to a gentler level.
- Use shorter sessions: 2–5 minutes per area may be enough, especially if you're close to the device.
- Use it consistently: Several short, low-intensity sessions each week outperform sporadic heavy use.
And if you're treating sensitive areas, lower irradiance is often safer, more comfortable, and still effective. The alternative of course is use a skin device like a wrap or full body mat
Our Approach at Home Light Therapy
Every panel and device we sell is tested for spectrum and irradiance using a lab-grade spectrometer. My shop designed to give you control—not just power. You can choose between skin contact devices in the portable collection which use weaker LEDs but allow you to connect them with your skin. Alternatively, you can choose more powerful panels that can be used up close or at distance. Simply adjust the distance and adjust exposure time, and still get results based on your body's actual needs.
You don’t need to flood your body with light. You need to dose it intelligently.
The Bottom Line
Modern science seems to suggest that more red light therapy isn't always better. Photobiomodulation science confirms that effective red light therapy doesn’t require extreme intensity. In fact, lower levels of near-infrared light may work just as well—or better—for many uses.
Want help dialing in your setup or choosing the right device for your needs? Contact me—I test every device myself and I’m happy to guide you.