The red light therapy industry continues to evolve quickly, and September brings an interesting mix of new products, company updates, research, and a question that gets right to the heart of the entire industry: How do we actually know red light therapy works?
This month, we’re looking at the return of the Hooga Wand, the possible end of an iconic PlatinumLED panel line, a new red light therapy device designed specifically for sauna use, and increasing movement toward independent testing and greater transparency from manufacturers.
But the biggest story may be a study examining four popular LED face masks. Researchers independently measured the devices and found significant differences between what some manufacturers advertised and what the masks actually delivered—including discrepancies in wavelengths, irradiance, and total dose.
New Red Light Therapy Products
There weren’t a huge number of new device launches this month, although that will likely change as we move closer to the holiday shopping season.
One notable return is the Hooga Wand, a small facial light therapy device that includes blue/violet light intended primarily for acne applications. Blue light can be particularly useful for targeting acne, which we’ve recently covered in both our acne mask testing and our guide to the best light therapy devices for acne.
The limitation of a wand is its treatment area and relatively low power. For treating larger areas of the face, we generally prefer a good LED mask or handheld panel. However, for someone specifically looking for a wand-style device, the Hooga stands out partly because it is significantly less expensive than many competing options.
Another interesting development involves PlatinumLED, which appears to be discontinuing its Bio series. This is particularly noteworthy because the Bio panels have been around since the early days of the consumer red light therapy market.
That could also mean something new is coming. PlatinumLED has historically performed extremely well in our panel comparisons, so the retirement of an older line may create room for a new budget-oriented panel.
There is also a new panel designed specifically for sauna use from Bestqool. Combining red light therapy with heat remains somewhat controversial, with differing opinions about whether high temperatures alter the effectiveness of photobiomodulation. What makes this particular device interesting is that it appears to have been designed specifically for the sauna environment rather than simply adapting an existing red light therapy panel.
More Companies Are Embracing Independent Testing
One of the most encouraging industry trends is the increased emphasis on independent testing.
Mito Red Light now has a page that shows independent test data for its devices. This is an important development because a manufacturer's advertised specifications do not necessarily reflect what a device actually delivers.
We recently interviewed the founder of an independent light therapy testing laboratory about exactly this issue. Accurate testing requires specialized equipment and methodology, particularly when measuring irradiance, wavelength output, and the total light emitted by a device.
Mito Red Light has also added a medical advisory board, another indication that the consumer red light therapy market is continuing to mature.
Meanwhile, Rouge appears to be expanding its involvement with wellness clubs. This makes sense, as red light therapy is increasingly part of facilities that already offer modalities such as saunas and PEMF.
Vielight Continues Expanding Its Brain Photobiomodulation Research
Vielight has updated its published research collection, and the company continues to stand out in the brain photobiomodulation category.
Its research covers areas including traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease.
This is particularly interesting in light of the positive research we discussed last month on mild cognitive impairment. We have also previously interviewed researchers studying brain photobiomodulation and the use of Vielight technology.
Another interesting part of Vielight's approach is its intranasal technology. Rather than relying exclusively on light applied through the skull, the device delivers light through the nasal cavity as part of its brain photobiomodulation protocol.
New Red Light Therapy Research for Animals, Anxiety and Depression
There were also several interesting research updates outside traditional consumer red light therapy.
NovoTHOR has released content demonstrating light therapy applications involving animals, including treatments involving the lumbar spine in dogs and applications for horses.
This is an area we may explore in greater depth because photobiomodulation isn't limited to human applications.
Meanwhile, Neuronic has highlighted two newer studies involving anxiety and depression. The research also examined outcomes involving areas such as attention and memory, with encouraging findings reported.
Researchers Independently Test Four LED Face Masks
One of the most interesting studies this month independently tested four commercially available LED face masks in Spain. The masks were anonymized, but they were popular consumer products—and the researchers found that the wavelengths, irradiance, and doses delivered didn't always match what manufacturers advertised.
Wavelength and Dose Discrepancies
Some of the wavelength claims were particularly concerning. For example, light advertised as yellow was measured closer to the green range in some cases. Researchers also found major differences in irradiance, meaning masks recommending similar 15- or 20-minute sessions could deliver dramatically different doses. At certain wavelengths, the difference between masks reached roughly 200-fold.
The study also highlighted uneven coverage and hotspots. Areas directly in front of LEDs could receive considerably more light than areas between them, which means a single irradiance measurement doesn't necessarily tell you how evenly a mask treats the entire face.
Why Independent Testing Matters
The researchers concluded that manufacturer specifications were sometimes limited or inconsistent. Wavelengths, power output, treatment time, coverage, and dose all matter—and what's advertised isn't necessarily what the device actually delivers.
This is exactly why independent testing has become so important. As more companies provide third-party laboratory results, consumers will be better able to compare LED masks based on their actual performance, rather than relying solely on manufacturer claims.
Does Red Light Therapy Actually Work?
This month’s Q&A came from a skeptical but fair question in our Facebook group: How do we really know red light therapy works, and how do we know we’re not being scammed?
There are now more than 10,000 studies on photobiomodulation covering areas such as skin health, pain, muscle recovery, joints, and brain health. That doesn’t mean every product or marketing claim is legitimate, but the sheer amount of research conducted around the world makes it difficult to dismiss red light therapy as a whole.
How Do You Know If It’s Working for You?
Ultimately, one of the best ways to know is to track your own results. Members of our Facebook group reported noticeable changes in pain, circulation, skin, hair, and muscle discomfort, while one wellness studio owner even tracks objective measurements such as grip strength.
You also don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to find out if red light therapy works for you. A smaller device or a few sessions at a wellness clinic can be an affordable way to start, ideally while tracking measurable changes over time.
What's Coming Next?
There is plenty more coming from Light Therapy Insiders over the next few months.
Upcoming content includes additional panel and device reviews, new comparisons, interviews, and testing. We're also continuing to expand our independent testing methodology so consumers have better information about what red light therapy products actually deliver.
With Black Friday and the holiday season approaching, we'll also be updating several major comparison categories to help separate the strongest devices from the increasingly crowded field.
And if this month's LED mask research teaches us anything, it's that independent testing is becoming more important, not less, as the red light therapy industry grows.
Items mentioned
🔴 Hooga - Use the following link: https://aferg.co/hooga-rlt. 12% discount auto-applied at checkout, site-wide.
🔴 PlatinumLED: Use the discount link https://aferg.co/redled. The discount appears once you click that link.
🔴 Bestqool: Use the code ALEX for 10% off at https://aferg.co/Bestqool
🔴 Mito Red: use https://aferg.co/7d221 for 5% off sitewide . Discount is auto-applied at checkout.
🔴 Rouge Care: Use discount code ALEX at https://aferg.co/rougecare
🔴 Vielight: Use discount code ALEX10 at https://aferg.co/vielight
🔴 Neuronic: Use discount code AlexF100 at https://neuronic.online/ for $100 off.
Bart's Bio
This is a post by Bart Wolbers. Bart finished degrees in Physical Therapy (B), Philosophy (BA and MA), Philosophy of Science and Technology (MS - with distinction), and Clinical Health Science (MS), has had training in functional medicine, and is currently the head researcher at Lighttherapyinsiders.com
