Red light therapy, explained

Red light therapy, also called photobiomodulation, uses red and near-infrared light. The light is absorbed in the body's tissues, and research suggests it interacts with the mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells. Red light works near the surface; near-infrared travels deeper. Source: de Freitas and Hamblin, IEEE J Sel Top Quantum Electron, 2016.

This page answers the questions people ask most, with sources. Where the research is early, we say so.

Red light, around 620 to 700 nm, is visible and works at surface tissue: skin, collagen and circulation. Near-infrared, around 800 to 1,100 nm, is invisible to the eye and travels further, reaching muscle and deeper tissue. That is why a device mixing the two looks partly dark while it is fully on.

They are two of the most studied wavelengths in photobiomodulation research, and every LED on the Red Light+ Mat carries both. The Face Mask adds blue light at 410 and 460 nm for the surface of the skin, and Solomon's Crown adds 1070 nm, the deepest band in our system. Each device is its own tool, not a bigger or smaller version of another.

Irradiance is how strong the light is where it lands, in milliwatts per square centimeter. A 2026 peer-reviewed product guide reports typical irradiance for skin-focused applications of 20 to 60 mW/cm², and advises checking a brand's numbers rather than trusting them. Source: Spongberg et al., Cureus, 2026.

Ask two questions of any device: at what distance was it measured, and with what instrument? A number quoted at zero inches, or from a cheap meter, can flatter a device. We will publish our own measured figures with the distance and the instrument, not before.

More is not better. Research describes a biphasic dose response: too little light does little, and too much can reduce the benefit. Source: Huang et al., Dose Response, 2009.

That is why every Exodus device comes with a time, a schedule and a limit, and why those limits are not interchangeable between devices. The Safety page has the full table.

Photobiomodulation has been studied for decades and the published research is growing. Most of it concerns red and near-infrared light in general, often with specific clinical devices and settings, not any one consumer brand.

We have not run clinical trials on our devices, and we do not claim results we have not measured. The one exception on our site is the Red Light+ Face Mask, which is FDA-cleared (K243978) for the treatment of full-face wrinkles and mild to moderate acne on the face.

Anyone who is pregnant, has a pacemaker or other implanted device, takes photosensitizing medication or retinoids, or has a light-sensitive condition. Our devices are for adults. See the Safety page for each device.

Five explainers, each under 45 seconds, each line traced to a published source. The transcript sits under every video.

Five near-death experiences and a Stage III melanoma diagnosis taught me one thing I couldn't unlearn: the body is designed to restore itself when you give it the right conditions. I'm 58 and healthier than I was at 44. Everything we sell, I use. If it isn't right for you, call us and we'll make it right.

Rak Chazak. Rob Rene, Founder