Frequently Asked Questions About Red Light Therapy

No, red light therapy and infrared therapy are not the same. Both therapies use light in specific wavelengths to promote various health benefits, but the biological processes they trigger are very different.

Red light therapy is a marketing term that does not have a clear definition, and thus can cause confusion.

For pain relief, we want 3 things

There are no known side effects to red light therapy, even if you use it very often. However, the frequency is limited by the amount of energy our mitochondria can absorb and turn into cellular energy. 

This is why we recommend the following:

Yes it is completely safe. That's because the way red light therapy works is that our cells can turn the light energy of these specific wavelengths into cellular energy, which allows our body's natural healing processes to work more effectively. The light also has anti-inflammatory effects and stimulates other biological processes like better blood circulation that help the healing process.

There are no known side effects to red light therapy. Only people with skin or light sensitivities should be careful with the frequency of sessions.

Yes, and no! Red light therapy for pain relief is a balancing act. On the one hand, you need deep penetration of your tissues for lasting effects on the cellular level. On the other hand, you want to prevent going further into the infrared wavelengths, as this turns the energy of the light into thermal energy rather than cellular energy.

As such, the healing effects of red light therapy are severely constrained when applied through clothes as the light won’t be able to penetrate the tissues as deeply.

That’s why the Cura ProWave Deep Healing Pad comes equipped with a Detachable Hygiene+ Pad that allows the LEDs to shine right onto the skin while providing a protective layer that you can clean easily.

Strength is a vital factor in red light therapy, but it's not necessarily true that higher power is always better. Our cells have a limit in their capacity to absorb additional energy. When this limit is surpassed, the therapy loses its effectiveness. A meta-analysis found that "LLLT exhibits a biphasic dose response curve where by lower doses of light are more effective than much higher doses."

The challenge of red light therapy devices lies in providing non-intrusive energy to cells that can be absorbed without heat. Companies whose devices deliver excessive power just to be able to claim they are the "most powerful" are not necessarily best for your well-being.

No, the red light bulbs need to be designed for therapeutic purposes. This is because common red light bulbs

Yes, we have written several blog articles that lay out the scientific evidence and clinical trials for different applications. Please refer to the blog articles below:

Red light therapy for pain management

Red light therapy for back pain

Red light therapy for knee pain

Red light therapy for psoriasis

Red light therapy for neuropathy

Red light therapy for arthritis

Red light therapy for fibromyalgia

Red light therapy for wound healing

Red light therapy is generally considered safe when used properly.

However, you may experience mild side effects like redness or temporary vision changes if you have sensitive skin or eye sensitivity. These side effects are usually temporary and subside on their own.

Nonetheless, you should follow these safety precautions:

No, red light therapy does not tan the skin. UV rays from the sun or tanning beds stimulate melanin production in the skin, leading to a darker pigmentation, or tan. In contrast, red light therapy uses low-level red or near-infrared light to penetrate the skin without causing the skin to produce more melanin

This is no problem, the velcro strap can be stretched a lot and will fit your waist.