Three ways to make your red light therapy sessions more effective

1. Press the panel into your skin

When the red light panel is pressed closer to the skin, several physical principles come into play that enhance the effectiveness of the therapy:

Irradiance is the power of electromagnetic radiation per unit area (measured in mW/cm²). By reducing the distance between the light source and the skin, the irradiance increases, meaning more energy is delivered to the skin in a shorter period. Light penetration into tissues follows the principles of the inverse square law, which states that the intensity of light is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. When the panel is closer, more photons penetrate deeper into the skin, reaching the target tissues more effectively.

Skin also naturally reflects some portion of incident light. Pressing the panel against the skin reduces the air gap, minimizing reflection and ensuring that more light is absorbed rather than scattered away. This maximizes the amount of light that actually penetrates the skin.

Application: You can either lay on the panel (I’d recommend playing the panel under a soft pillow for this) or you can place a lightweight object (1-2 lbs) on top of the panel for areas like the knee.

2. Cold Therapy and skin surface area

Cold therapy, or cryotherapy, involves cooling the skin, which can also enhance the penetration of red light. Cold application causes vasoconstriction, which reduces blood flow to the surface of the skin. This helps in reducing the heat dissipation and allows more light to penetrate deeper, as blood can absorb and scatter light.

Cold temperatures can cause the skin and underlying tissues to contract slightly, reducing the overall surface area. This contraction can decrease the thickness of superficial layers and make it easier for light to penetrate deeper tissues. Cooler skin temperatures can also alter the optical properties of the skin, potentially reducing scattering and increasing absorption of the red light in the targeted areas.

Application: use a cold back for 3-5min before applying red light. Cold shower or ice bath also works.

3. Methylene Blue & chlorophyll

Methylene blue and chlorophyll can act as photosensitizers and electron donors, enhancing the effects of red light therapy:

Both methylene blue and chlorophyll can absorb light and convert it into chemical energy. When these substances are present in the skin, they can absorb the red light and transfer the energy to nearby molecules, generating reactive oxygen species or other reactive intermediates that can promote cellular repair and regeneration. Methylene blue and chlorophyll can donate electrons during light absorption. This electron donation can (on the flip side) help in reducing oxidative stress and promoting cellular repair mechanisms. Methylene blue, for instance, is known to facilitate mitochondrial respiration by acting as an alternative electron carrier, which can enhance cellular energy production

The combination of red light and these photosensitizers can amplify the therapeutic effects of RLT and even sunlight. The photosensitizers can localize the energy absorption, leading to more targeted and efficient treatment outcomes. This can be particularly useful in addressing specific conditions like skin lesions (you can actually apply these directly to the skin itself for these issues), inflammation, or even certain types of infections and cancer where targeted cellular activation is implicated (photodynamic therapy)

Application: 10-15mg of MB or chlorophyll (pick one or the other) 1 hour before red light therapy.

NOTE: MB should never be used with SSRI’s, as this can cause serotonin syndrome. This information is for theoretical and scientitiv use only. These can also make you skin more sensitive to burning in the sun, so this is something to be aware of

see the ‘red light therapy buyers guide’ for recommendations on purchasing a device.

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