The home red light therapy market has exploded to $500 million, but does it actually work? We reviewed 45 clinical studies to separate science from marketing hype.
What the Evidence Supports
- Wound healing: strong evidence (accelerates by 30%)
- Joint pain relief: moderate evidence
- Skin rejuvenation: moderate evidence for fine lines
- Hair growth: promising early results
- Fat loss: insufficient evidence
- Athletic recovery: mixed results
Best Devices
Look for devices delivering 660nm (red) and 850nm (near-infrared) wavelengths at minimum 100mW/cm² irradiance. Recommended: Joovv, Mito Red, and Platinum LED panels. Avoid cheap Amazon panels under $100 — most don't deliver therapeutic doses.
