Red Light Therapy Bed

Debating whether to invest in an at-home red light mask or get a membership to a local wellness studio to take advantage of full-body red light therapy? Today, we're sharing the science behind red light therapy and comparing the two options, so you can make an informed decision.

The Science Behind Red Light Therapy

To understand the differentiation we are about to discuss, you need a basic understanding of how light therapy works, whether you end up using a full-body red light therapy bed or an at-home face mask. 

Essentially, red light therapy uses non-thermal red and near-infrared light to stimulate your mitochondria and make them more efficient. Think of your cells like a load of laundry. Your body already has its own “detergent” — the natural processes that help cells repair and produce energy. Red light therapy acts like a laundry booster. It gives your mitochondria the extra push they need to work more efficiently, helping your cells produce more energy and support healing, recovery, and healthier skin.

Red Light Therapy Bed Vs. At-Home Face Masks

Both a professional full-body red light therapy bed and at-home face masks use the science of red light therapy to benefit users, but the breadth of those benefits varies. 

Depth of Penetration

The primary difference between the two is the depth of penetration. Red light masks are designed to be user-safe at home, with most using solely red light that reaches only 1-2 millimeters into one’s tissue. This means it is usually limited to the epidermis, your topmost layer of skin. Full-body red light therapy beds, on the other hand, combine red light and near-infrared light to penetrate more deeply, reaching past the skin to muscles, joints, bones, and deeper soft tissues. 

The depth of penetration dictates the available results. When it is solely at the surface level, like with face masks, you typically only achieve skin benefits. The stimulation improves collagen production and skin elasticity, reducing acne, inflammation, and wrinkles. While those are nothing to scoff at, you get even more with the deeper penetration of red light therapy beds. Recipients of this therapy have reported pain relief, muscle recovery, and reduced deep inflammation, in addition to skin benefits. 

Width of Coverage

The other core difference between a professional red light therapy bed and at-home face masks or other tools is the width of coverage.

Professional systems, like full-body red light therapy beds, emit high, consistent levels of irradiance to the whole body at once; irradiance refers to the amount of light energy delivered to the body’s tissues over a specific area. This means that most people can achieve the benefits of red light therapy in less than 20 minutes. 

At-home devices such as masks or wands have lower irradiance levels. Being underpowered means it takes significantly longer to achieve the same results. Plus, they often only cover a small amount of the body at a time, meaning it could take hours to go over one’s whole body with a wand to achieve the same results as 20 minutes in a red light therapy bed. 

The End Result

As you can see, while at-home devices can be great for those looking for surface-level results while relaxing in the comfort of their home, to truly get the biggest bang for one’s effort, they must take advantage of professional equipment. 

What We Offer at The Wellness Room

At The Wellness Room, we are focused on advanced wellness technology in a calm, modern recovery environment. We offer state-of-the-art equipment, including the OvationULT by Body Balance System. This full-body red light bed delivers powerful 360° red and near-infrared light in just 20 minutes. It’s FDA-cleared, NLRT-certified, and designed for maximum coverage and impact.

Schedule your appointment today at The Wellness Room Chiropractic + Recovery.