Wilma explains:

Red light therapy only works well if you get the right dose of light. Too short and you won’t notice much effect, too long and you won’t necessarily get better results. In this guide we explain how to determine the treatment time for each of our devices, so you know exactly what to expect.

Why Treatment Time Matters

With red light therapy, everything comes down to the amount of energy your skin and tissue receive, measured in Joules. Too little energy gives no visible result, too much energy can have the opposite effect, this is called the “biphasic dose response”. That’s why we provide a minimum, optimal and maximum treatment time for each device, depending on what you’re using it for.

Superficial Treatment Versus Deep Tissue

We distinguish between two types of applications. Superficial is for the skin, minor skin complaints, eyes or wounds, this requires less energy since you’re working closer to the surface. Deep tissue is for muscles, joints and organs, this requires more time because the light needs to penetrate deeper. The further your device is from your skin, the longer the treatment time, simply because light intensity decreases with distance.

Treatment Times Per Device

For the full dosage guide; click here
BioPhoton 2.0 / 3.0
For superficial treatment at 15 cm distance, aim for around 13 minutes for the best result. For deep tissue at skin contact, the optimal session lasts around 32 minutes, and at 15 cm distance this increases to about 50 minutes.

BioPhoton Max Bi Tone
This device has a larger treatment area. Superficial at 15 cm comes to around 5 minutes, at 50 cm this increases to just over 7 minutes. For deep tissue, the optimal time ranges from 4 minutes at skin contact to nearly 28 minutes at 50 cm distance.

Vivo Lux Series (450, 300, 150, 60, 35)
These more compact devices need shorter treatment times. Superficial optimal time ranges between 1.5 and 7 minutes, depending on the model and distance. For deep tissue, this ranges from around 7 minutes to nearly 26 minutes, depending on the specific model and distance to the skin.

Vivo Red Light Cap 2.0
Specifically designed for skin contact. Superficial treatment comes to around 3.5 minutes, deep tissue around 14 minutes.

Vivo Torch 2.0
This compact device works at very short distance. At 3 cm, superficial treatment takes about 1.5 minutes, deep tissue at the same distance about 6.5 minutes. At 20 cm distance this increases significantly, up to nearly 30 minutes for deep tissue.

A Few Practical Tips

Always start at the minimum time if you’re new to a device, this lets your skin adjust. Gradually build up to the optimal time for the best result. Don’t exceed the maximum time, more isn’t necessarily better and can even have the opposite effect. Always check the distance to your skin, this directly affects how long you should treat.

Conclusion

Every device and every application requires a slightly different approach. Not sure which time works best for your situation? Feel free to contact us, we’re happy to help you figure it out.