Is 10 Minutes of Red Light Therapy Enough?

IN THIS ARTICLE:

01 Is 10 Minutes of Red Light Therapy Enough?
02 How Often Should I Use Red Light Therapy?
03 How Many Minutes a Day Should You Use Red Light Therapy?
04 Can You Do Red Light Therapy Twice a Day?
05 Can I Use a Red Light Therapy Wand More Than Once Per Day?
06 The Takeaway

4-minute read

Key Takeaways:

General recommendations are 3-5 sessions per week for 10-20 minutes
Once you notice results, you can perform less frequent sessions
More powerful devices may have a lower treatment time to deliver the optimal dose

How and when we use our red light therapy is central to achieving the best results - and you may be disappointed to hear that the answer to '10 minutes of red light therapy enough?' is …it might be.

How Often Should I Use Red Light Therapy?

Using a red light therapy device such as a mask or a wand daily is considered safe and effective. A minimum of 3-4 sessions per week is recommended to start to see results, however, at the beginning of your treatment, daily sessions are safe and encouraged.

How Many Minutes a Day Should You Use Red Light Therapy?

Most red light device companies recommend between 10 and 20 minutes of red light therapy per day. But the ‘optimal’ dose of light to trigger the necessary cellular responses will depend on the power density of that particular device. There is a ‘sweet spot’ when it comes to your red light therapy treatments, above or below which you will not achieve the best results.

This is referred to as the ‘biphasic dose response’ meaning that red light, at the correct dose enhances skin health and cellular activity, but at the incorrect dose may have the opposite effect.

Most reputable brands will already calculate the optimal dose for that particular device considering factors such as power density, distance from the skin, and the number of LEDs, so while most LED devices may need 10-20 minutes to deliver the optimal dose, some higher quality devices such as LumaLux Face and Face+ only require 3 to deliver the same dose of light. For a more detailed explanation of this concept please refer to our post here.

Can You Do Red Light Therapy Twice a Day?

Due to the ‘biphasic dose response’, the phenomenon described above, it is not typically recommended to do more than one LED light therapy session per day. While most at-home devices are unlikely to cause skin damage with overuse, doing extra sessions won’t provide any added benefits either.

Can I Use a Red Light Therapy Wand More than Once Per Day?

When using red or blue light therapy wands, the guidelines differ slightly since these devices target specific areas rather than the entire face or body. For example, if a wand is recommended for 10 minutes of use per day, this typically means treating one specific area of skin for 10 minutes, rather than multiple areas within the same session.

LED Wand

LumaGlow Red & Blue | LED Light Therapy Wand

Full-body LED treatment with red and blue light therapy to treat arms, legs, neck and more

The Takeaway

Red light therapy is a powerful, science-backed tool for improving skin health, reducing inflammation, and promoting cellular regeneration. However, to get the best results, it's essential to use it correctly. The key takeaway? More isn’t always better. The biphasic dose response means that red light therapy is most effective within an optimal range—too little won’t yield results, and too much may diminish its benefits.

For certain devices, 10–20 minutes per day is ideal, though high-quality devices like LumaLux Face and Face+ can deliver the same therapeutic dose in just three minutes. While daily use is safe and encouraged, doing multiple sessions per day won’t enhance results and may even have the opposite effect.

For wands that treat smaller areas, the same principles apply—focus on one area at a time and follow the manufacturer’s recommended treatment time. By understanding and respecting these guidelines, you can maximize the benefits of red light therapy and achieve your specific skin goals.

Written by Olivia Khader