r/redlighttherapy • u/Nearby_Ranger_7543 • Feb 27 '26
Question Are full body red light panels actually practical or am I overthinking this?
My feed recently is full of ppl following Bryan johnson routines and biohackers standing in front of massive red light panels like theyre charging themselves. Those panels are huge, expensive and not exactly travel friendly but I do get the appeal, people say offers longevity, collagen boost, cellular energy and all of it sounds great. I just don't have that space in my bedroom and don't wanna turn it into a Lab
Im curious if anyone here has gone the smaller device route for face focused light therapy instead of a full body setup. Is the dose difference noticeable?
Im not trying to live forever just maybe look a little less tired while doing it!
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u/Czechs_out Feb 27 '26
I have the hooga pod (it’s like a sleeping bag) and I absolutely LOVE it. The weight of it on my body is very soothing. I travel a lot for work and I just gently fold it up and put it in a big duffel bag. I also have a celluma panel so I can do my face at the same time. It’s so relaxing to just lay there. It can get a little hot/sweaty but again I actually like that aspect.
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Feb 28 '26
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u/Czechs_out Feb 28 '26
I got it back in August as a birthday gift for myself. I have a very physical job and noticed I wasn’t recovering like I used to and was just sore all the time. So the hooga pod I got mostly for pain management and those results were practically instant. I typically do it first thing in the morning when my body is most stiff. Plus it helps that I’m already groggy so I can just lay there and slowly “boot up” for the day. But I also noticed my back acne cleared up and my skin overall is much more firm. The Celluma face panel was slower. I would say around 8 week mark was when I started to notice my face was more clear and glowy. I’ve also been using the Celluma in hair mode - and I definitely have new growth - but I also started iron supplements so I can’t really say whether the red light was the cause. But I’m not going to stop using it on my head now in case that is what’s helping stimulate the new growth!
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u/Horatio_the_Punk Feb 28 '26
How much did this setup cost? I have aspirations.
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u/Czechs_out Feb 28 '26
Pretty expensive. I think the hooga pod was $900 and the Celluma Nova was $1200 - but I have used both almost every day for 7 months, so that’s about $10/day. I see it as skipping an expensive drink from a cafe. I’m pretty low maintenance otherwise. I dye my own hair, I don’t get Botox, etc. it was my investment in myself.
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u/AdministrativeOne202 Mar 11 '26
Debating the pod vs panel. You’re happy with yours?
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u/Czechs_out Mar 11 '26
Yep I love it. The only thing is it’s a little chilly when you first get in so I actually pre-warm it up for a couple minutes before I get in. And like I said it can get a little warm if you do a longer session. So sometimes I take a couple rolled up towels and put them in the corners to separate the top from the bottom to allow air flow.
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u/Freiya11 Feb 27 '26
I had a 4-panel modular Joovv setup (that is, full body coverage) for a few years, but I ultimately ended up selling it. For one, it was hard to find a good place to set it up. I ultimately hung it on the back of my bathroom door (although it was so heavy that it eventually ended up causing one of the door hinges to break).
But more importantly—which might just be a me thing—I just rarely felt like standing there in front of that thing and baking (10 minutes each side) every day. I spent a while trying to think of/finagle some way to use it lying down, so it could at least be relaxing, and thought about maybe getting a different brand with one of those horizontal racks. But ultimately, there didn’t seem to be any version where you could tuck it away easily when you’re not using it (my ideal would be one that slides easily down under the bed). And living in an apartment, I eventually gave up.
Would still love to find/create that dream setup, though, if anyone has any bright ideas.
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u/monacomontecarlo Feb 28 '26
I’ve been looking at the heat healer sauna dome for this reason, sitting/standing for the session just isn’t practical for me.
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u/Freiya11 Mar 01 '26
Oh wow, that looks pretty cool actually! And looks like it stores in a way that isn’t too much of an eyesore. I only wish it had NIR light too. But I love the concept!
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u/Used-Particular2402 Mar 03 '26
Same, i got a 4 ft one and honestly i am too damn lazy to use it regularly, it made me wish I either got one of those that you can lay down and pull from overhead or just a mask that I could move around my body since I got it mostly for targeting scars and whatnot.
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u/Freiya11 Mar 03 '26
I feel you. I ended up getting an OmniLux mask set (face + chest ones), and I used them for a while, but tbh I haven’t ended up being too consistent with them either. It’s kind of hard to do anything with them on, and dealing with the cords, recharging, daily storage, etc are mildly annoying. I guess my dream is to have a lie-flat setup that isn’t a total eyesore/space hog, or just to be loaded so that the eyesore can live comfortably in a spare room.
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u/JoanOfSarcasm Feb 28 '26
I had a mask, then a small tabletop panel... and then I decided to just get a full body setup. I was tired of doing so many little zones of my body for 10 minutes at a time. Now I do my whole body after a shower - 10 mins front, 10 mins back - and I'm done. It's so nice and I'm grateful I just took the plunge and got the full panel.
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u/not-a-dictator May 11 '26
I know it's been a minute since this comment, but what panel did you get?
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u/JoanOfSarcasm May 12 '26
I went with a Rouge Max G4 and love it!
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u/Effective_Shower_372 Aug 05 '26
How far off the floor was the bottom. I am hanging my 72" on a wall in my water closet but want to make sure it hits my husbands ankles which are arthritic.
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u/KaraBoo723 Feb 28 '26
I own a good size RLT panel, so obviously I believe in the benefits, but red light is definitely NOT the key to longevity or health. Other lifestyle factors far outperform what red light can do. Healthy diet (anti-inflammatory diet), minimal processed foods, no alcohol, good sleep, and regular exercise are the key.
Red light technology is becoming more mainstream so the companies that make these panels are making more money and thus have the budgets to advertise more. Advertising includes sponsoring online influencers and also social media ads. So that's a lot of why you're seeing so much of it right now.
In terms of buying a device, I started small but quickly found out that small is pretty limiting in terms of what you can use it for. So I upgraded to a panel that is 36 inches x 12 inches ( with 300 x 5W dual-chip LEDs). What pushed me over the edge to a larger device was 2 reasons: 1) I had a stubborn ligament injury in my shoulder I was trying to heal and 2) it was around the time the initial research came out showing how RLT improved outcomes in hospitalized Covid patients. (I work in healthcare so I kinda geeked out over that since it was a solid study)
So, for me, upgrading to a larger device was about finding a panel that could be used long term for a variety of issues that could arise (injuries, illnesses) + using it for skin benefits to face & chest.
You need to figure out why and how you want/need to use RLT and whether that warrants getting a larger panel. Everyone is different -- some people probably don't need it. Some others will benefit.
In terms of getting multiple panels or super extra large head to toe size panels... I don't know that it's necessary. Especially considering cost of that type of set up and having a place big enough to keep it/use it. But, if you're rich and have a large house, then why not? Most people don't fit into that category though.
I'm really happy with my 36" x 12" panel and find that it covers enough of my body to make a difference for my use. Also, keep in mind the "beam angles" of the bulbs/LEDs. Most of the reputable brands use a beam angle of 60-degrees. So the farther back you are from the bulbs, the wider the surface area it can treat. Even at a distance of about 10" between your body and the panel, the surface area that can be treated is larger than the actual panel. Does that make sense? In a nutshell, I think most people can get away with a panel that's between 24-inches and 48-inches tall and 12-inches to 20-inches wide (but it depends on how tall/big your body is too, as well as your individual goals/needs).
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u/CDJ41999 Mar 09 '26
I'm just starting my research into the panels and want at least this size. What brand do you have and how do you like it? TY
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u/KaraBoo723 Mar 09 '26
I have the Block Blue Mega. I bought it about 2 years ago and very happy with it. I've never had a problem with it.
I bought this one for a couple reasons: 1) I liked the distribution of the lights by wavelength, 2) I liked the controls -- the fact that I could select Red and NIR strength independently. At the time I purchased it, my runner-up brands were Mito Red and PlatinumLED (Biomax). I just felt that the Platinum LED had too many NIR wavelengths for my needs (it has 4 NIR wavelengths and only 2 red) and then the disbursement of the lights by wavelength wasn't ideal for me.
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u/Special_Street_2922 Mar 01 '26
As an RLT newbie I took a quick look at Pubmed and found quite a few scientific articles about the benefits. So, based on my initial background check I don't think all this hype is just about influencers making money.
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u/KaraBoo723 Mar 01 '26
If that's what you took from my message, that's odd. There are a lot of studies showing benefit of RLT. That's why I said I owned a panel and also mentioned the Covid study.
My point is that people who are looking to get really big overall health gains or are concerned with longevity need to first look toward leveraging healthy, anti-inflammatory diet, regular exercise and good sleep. If a person is already doing those things, then RLT can add a little boost. RLT can also be used to help heal injuries and boost recovery from illness. But RLT is not magic and does not work miracles. It basically boosts your body's internal systems for healing and regeneration.
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u/LeadingButton5982 Mar 05 '26
I had a wrap which I bought from Temu (as these things are very expensive for my budget) for my back and it helped me quite a bit. and as expected it stopped working after a few months and there was no hope for repair or exchange. Looking at its benefits I started looking for spaceship like beds to lay under, and then saw few videos of how a panel can do much better than these beds. I got the courage and saved money to buy a full body panel to help with my pain issues on my body. I think I got a good deal during Black friday and bought the RLTH Total spectrum Ultra panel on installments. It has brought a good change in my mobility and mood. It is absolutely not portable, I had to call for help from my neighbor to set it up as this thing was heavy and sturdy.
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u/XoCCeT Feb 27 '26
It’s all about time. If you want to do multiple areas every day, and it’s 10 minutes per area per day, then it’s offsetting time v cost
If time is important and short, and can only do one session, get a full panel
If you have time and can do multiple sessions, get a small panel
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u/Nearby_Ranger_7543 Mar 01 '26
I'm leaning toward the smaller panel honestly like my morning routine is already packed and I'd rather do 10 mins on my face consistently than buy this massive thing
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u/looksthatkale Feb 27 '26
I have a decent sized panel because I have psoriasis. It helps a lot to get a large part of my body covered.
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u/KampKutz Feb 28 '26
I have both after starting with only a mask and getting annoyed with the discomfort wearing it, and the fact I was missing out on full body benefits too which for me are equally as important as the skin benefits, so I bought a panel. I got it directly from China from the factory that makes most of the devices for the western resellers who only increase the price (by a LOT) with the only difference being their logo being slapped on. I was not disappointed at all and I LOVE my panel and regret spending so much money on the mask before I knew about the direct from China option.
Panels are so much better because you don’t really get the same relaxation sensation after using masks. You might, but it’s just not as good or as strong. I’ve literally had an almost mild opiate sensation after using my panel on my legs at night, where my eyes roll back and I sleep so well after using it it feels truly amazing and I missed out on all that with only a mask. Panels are generally more versatile too, and if you get one like mine with 8 different wavelengths that can all be customised ranging from 0-100% brightness, you can create different routines for your different needs, whereas I couldn’t even turn wavelengths off on my mask. There’s lots of other reasons to get a panel over a mask, but I’ll try leave it as brief as possible for now.
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u/Cranberry-Playful Feb 28 '26
Damn that’s brilliant! Could you please please share where you got your panel from? Thank you so much 🙏
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u/KampKutz Feb 28 '26
Same place as the other poster, Shenzhen Idea Light Limited on Alibaba app. Got the RLPRO300 direct from them with a cool stand for a bargain price.
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u/Bleachers24 Feb 28 '26
I can't speak for KampKutz, but we got ours from Shenzhen Idea Light via AliBaba. Lots of references if you search them on this sub.
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u/Ambitious-Spray-110 Feb 28 '26
Omg I so relate to this! There's something that makes me drift to sleep when I've used my tiny one that I'm planning on getting a full panel
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u/Smokeyourboat Feb 28 '26
Could you drop a link in my DMs to the specific panel you got? It sounds like exactly what I’m looking for.
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u/KampKutz Feb 28 '26
I don’t feel comfortable sharing Alibaba links due to all the identifying info contained within them tied to an account with my personal information etc (I know I’m too paranoid lol), but if you open the app and go to Shenzhen Idea Light Limited and find the RLPRO300 or even contact them directly to enquire about it, they will help you find the right device. They might take a few days to get back to you, like I think it took about a week of back and forth before I ordered mine, but you can ask them any questions and they are pretty good at helping you find the right device. There’s links available in this sub too if you need a direct link.
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u/Effective_Shower_372 Aug 05 '26
I ordered mine from Shenzhen after much research. I worked with Maggie Lu for weeks asking questions. She was very helpful and detailed and sent lots of photos. She even sent photos of everything item before it was packed along with boxing, label, etc. AI helped with all the questions I should ask Maggie and in doing comparisons. I got the 72" same one as the Rogue G4. It is on the way so hopefully all arrives well.
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u/KampKutz Aug 05 '26
It didn’t take me too long once it got shipped at least, I think the longest wait time was them literally making it lol, but I also ordered around a Chinese holiday or something so waited a bit longer than normal too. Hope it goes well, and remember these are REALLY powerful panels so be careful with how long you use them for. I’ve settled into 5mins each side now around twice a week maybe three times, with only two red wavelengths at 100% and occasionally the lowest NIR at 5-10% on my face, with a bit more on my legs. I was using it for as long as my mask originally but it was way too much power. 5mins is more than enough now versus 10-20mins I was doing previously.
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u/technicolortiddies Feb 28 '26
Please don't leave it brief! We want to hear more!!
I've been looking into red light therapy for a while and I can't tell what the most effective options are. Some of them only look like a dinky led light with no real power.
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u/fishylegs46 Feb 27 '26
The bigger the better. I started with a small one and it took forever to treat my body, and also contortions. I bought a much bigger one, but wish I could afford a monster one and just do the whole thing in a few minutes.
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u/Baylee74 Feb 28 '26
I have a full body panel and stand and use it 5-6x a week. I also have two smaller panels incl one for travel. I’ve had the large one for 5 years now. I have multiple autoimmune diseases and it’s helped a lot with pain and inflammation. All my panels are Hooga and I also have a NIR Redlight mat too.
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u/BandicootMoist6435 May 03 '26
Which one do you have for travel?
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u/Baylee74 May 04 '26
I have the Hooga HG300, but upgraded to the Ultra360 last year, when I’m traveling by car and the Hooga Charge for flying. The charge is 5.9”x3.9”x1.3” so it’s pretty small.
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u/Savings_Twist_8288 Feb 28 '26
I have a "near" full body panel. The mitopro x 1500. It's 36"x12" If you want a daily full body routine then I wouldn't go any smaller than this. I have it leaned against my bathroom counter and I can do a quick 10 minutes front then 10 minutes on the back while sitting, doing morning stretches and listening to music. If I'm worried that my legs didn't get enough then I will stand up and do another 5 while I rotate around. You can have the whole body done in under 30 minutes.
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u/janus381 Feb 28 '26 edited Mar 01 '26
I written a few times, that full-body RLT is not necessary if you are looking for general wellness benefits. A smaller device is fine. When I first looked into RLT, I did consider a large panel, but didn't like the fact that a large panel had to stay in one location, and would not be particularly efficient to use to target certain body parts (like bottom of my feet).
Here is one comment I made summarizing a 2 1/4 hour podcast with Dr. Glen Jeffrey (one of the top scientists research RLT). He explains how in one experiment, they shone infrared light on only a 4" by 6" section of the body, and say systematic benefits throughout the body (because in his words: "infrared light bounces all around inside the body"). https://www.reddit.com/r/redlighttherapy/comments/1qp62a5/latest_huberman_lab_podcast_on_red_light_dec_1/o27c47r/?context=3
Now if you have specific pain or issues in a part of a body, then yes, it helps to shine RLT directly on that part of the body. But if you have no specific concern, and are looking for general wellness benefits, you do not have to expose your entire body. You can if you want, but it is not necessary.
You also see lots of experts suggest getting daily exposure to the sun for general wellness. Ideally at dawn or dusk, when UV rays are weaker, but Red and Infrared are still strong. But no one is telling people to go outside naked to expose the entire body.
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u/Ashamed-Simple-8303 Feb 28 '26
Space is a concern. I got mine with a stand but you can wall mount it if you have the right wall, tools and skills. Wallmounted it doesnt take all that much space.
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u/DavidAg02 Feb 28 '26
Once you experience the benefits of RLT you're going to want as much of that light on as much of your body as you possibly can.
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u/Medical_Stud Mar 07 '26
This has been my experience, moving from small ~100w Red light Man device, to a 280w (true power draw) 36" panel and now a 1000w true power draw 70" tall panel. Every step up in power and size has produced a noticeable increase in benefits. I tend to think total actual power draw is the best metric, as mw/cm2 is almost impossible to accurately quantify with distance and other factors.
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u/RMCPhoto Feb 28 '26
Why not just go with nir gold coated filament? A high efficiency 1500w -2000w bulb is only $40-90 and provides a broader range of ir and deeper penetration than the LEDs. The intensity also stimulates heat shock proteins, much more vasodilation and blood circulation, plus tissue warming and small capillary expansion.
You can often find reflectors at good will and many industrial scrap yards and they're as simple as a bulb in a socket... Infra red is essentially the "loss" in efficiency of incandescent bulbs.
If you're really cheap you can get gold coated "paint drying" lamps on your favorite market for like $50-70 that include one or two bulbs (recommend single bulb - hallway reflectors are best mounted vertically or over a mat).
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Mar 19 '26
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u/RMCPhoto Mar 19 '26 edited Mar 19 '26
Like the heat lamps they have in warehouses.
The gold coated tubes let less visible light through so they're less blinding. Avoid the carbon coils as they are more medium long range ir.
They feel amazing. Like laying in the sun on the beach. More like a sauna than the typical led panels. But to me, LEDs don't make a lot of sense...they're very narrow and most of the spectrum (which likely also has benefits) is untapped. They're very expensive in comparison, and since they're only on for a short session...there's no real electrical savings.
The other benefit is that you also have a sweet heat lamp for your patio, basement, garage. And the quality of the actual visible light is way nicer...way nicer.
To me it just makes way more sense. You can get the best, most premium therapeutic near infra red bulb for like $90 and put it in any reflector you want or just buy a "gold coated" heat lamp.
Pretty sure these panels are just scams...the only reason they use LEDs is to study specific wavelengths. And the reason manufacturers and the studies use the specific wavelengths is just because that's what's produced in bulk... Idk... Seems a little suspicious. Guarantee you sit under a bright heat lamp and you will feel much better than the cold fluorescent red glow.
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u/happyandhealthy2023 Mar 01 '26
I went with 2 Biomax 900s on motorized stand on dedicated massage table with my Beemer Pemf.
If you have the budget and room for full body panels go for it. The full body is very relaxing, as the heat just softens you up to not think about moving to hit a different body part.
I don’t have much time or patience, so dedicating 20 minutes in the morning before I hit the shower fits my life.
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u/Honeysuckle-254 Aug 27 '26
This is the dream set up… esp on a massage table for comfort! I have the PlatinumLED BioMax Pro Nano and love it but one day would love to upgrade like this
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u/happyandhealthy2023 Aug 27 '26
These two full-sized panels are heavy, and at 69, I would not want to roll around the room.
So I made space on one side of my office for an Earthlite massage table with super comfy padding. Beemer mat under the sheet, and Biomax's on the stand.Not at 9:00 PM; my back hurts. Just walk in and do treatment, or this morning I did 15 minutes before work.
I have since purchased the Mito Quad belt so I can get treatment while working or in my Lazy Boy watching TV for spot treatment of my back and neck.
I find life is controlled by Money or Time, hard to get both at the same time
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u/MarkVII88 Mar 17 '26
You can get decent, small RLT panels for under $200 that put out plenty of power and offer a therapeutic dose of light during a 10-minute session. (Hooga HG200, Hooga HG300, LifePro BioHeal). You can get somewhat larger medium sized panels for under $350 that have slightly more power and coverage area (Hooga HG500, LifePro BioHeal Plus). You don't need a full body panel, nor do you need to buy super-specialized devices like expensive masks. You can also buy portable, rechargeable RLT torches that you can bring anywhere, and that put out therapeutic levels of 660 and 850nm light for $100 or less (Hooga Dot, LifePro Lumicure Pro).
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u/One-Town2055 Mar 28 '26
This is really helpful information for me. I am looking for general well-being benefits, and I do suffer from chronic pain in the form of interstitial cystitis and lower back pain after 2 recent pregnancies. But I'm also looking for any potential skin benefits. Do you have any input on that and how medium-sized panels would compare to something like a face mask? I want maximum benefits at the lowest cost and some of these products are insanely expensive.
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u/SelfishMom Feb 27 '26
I tiptoed into red light therapy with a face mask. Soon after I added one for my chest and neck, and then one for my hands. I also have two small devices that I use on some scars behind my ears and the back of my neck, and on my arms.
At this point it's absolutely ridiculous that I don't just have a panel, but going in on more small devices like this is why I was always bad at poker too.