How to use the panel
Three variables decide the outcome: distance, time and frequency. Nothing more — but nothing less.
Choose a goal and distance, calculate incident energy from your panel's measured irradiance and begin conservatively. The ranges below are educational starting points, not universal treatment protocols.
The base protocol
- • Distance: 30–60 cm from the body.
- • Time: 5–10 minutes per area.
- • Frequency: follow the goal-specific table below; consistency matters more than one unusually long session.
- • Dose: exact time changes with the measured irradiance of the selected panel and distance.
- • Bare skin: light does not pass through clothing.
Protocols by goal
| Goal | Dose J/cm² | Distance | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin, collagen, wrinkles | 3–10 | 30 cm | 3–5× a week Calculate for my panel |
| Surface skin care | 4–12 | 30 cm | daily for 2–4 weeks Calculate for my panel |
| Muscle recovery after exercise | 20–60 | 30 cm | after training, 3–6× a week Calculate for my panel |
| Muscle priming before performance | 20–60 | 30 cm | before training Calculate for my panel |
| Targeted area around a joint | 30–80 | 15 cm | 5× a week Calculate for my panel |
| Full-body maintenance and energy | 10–40 | 50 cm | 3–5× a week Calculate for my panel |
For the exact time for your panel model and chosen distance, use the dosing calculator.
When to use the panel
- • Morning: use the panel as a separate routine; it does not replace bright outdoor daylight or its circadian signal.
- • Around training: choose a targeted muscle area. One universal optimum timing has not been established.
- • Evening: red light contains fewer short blue wavelengths than screens. Do not aim the panel into your eyes.
The most common mistakes
- • Overexposure. Longer need not be better. Biphasic responses have been observed experimentally, but do not define one universal optimum.
- • Chasing a result. Do not compensate for a missed session with one unusually long exposure.
- • Too much distance. Beyond 60 cm the irradiance drops so far that the time needed for a given dose grows out of proportion.
- • Promising a fast result. One human skin study used specific devices and a specific protocol; it cannot be transferred to every panel or person.
Safety
Don't look straight into the diodes; use eye protection when treating the face. Consult a doctor if you're pregnant, have a cancer diagnosis, photosensitivity, or take photosensitising medication. This guide is educational and does not replace medical care.
Last content review: September 2026. The expert reviewer will be named after an independent professional review is complete.