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That cheap red light device you bought on Amazon might literally just be a regular light with red film over it. If so, you’re missing out on real red light therapy benefits!

In today’s episode, Dr. Abby Kramer from Fringe Heals joins me to break down everything you need to know about red light therapy. 

We’re going beyond the surface to dive into the actual science: 

• How red light works at the cellular level to supercharge your mitochondria
• Why specific wavelengths are crucial
• Why most cheap devices are complete scams

The truth is, red light therapy harnesses the same healing wavelengths that come from the sun, the ones that are most abundant at sunrise and sunset. But since the average American spends 93% of their time indoors, we need quality devices that actually deliver therapeutic benefits. 

Dr. Abby explains why intensity matters more than you think (hint: higher isn’t always better), how to avoid EMF exposure from poorly made devices, and why flicker can sabotage your results.

We also dive into specific applications that might surprise you: 

• Using red light for thyroid health, gut microbiome healing, and brain function
• Healing hormonal acne with therapeutic blue light

Plus, we tackle controversial topics, such as whether it’s safe to look directly at a red light (spoiler: the research says yes, with proper precautions) and why warnings about pregnancy and babies are mostly legal disclaimers, rather than science-based concerns.

In today’s episode, we’re chatting about:

• Why most Amazon red light devices are literally fake (and how to spot quality ones)
• The specific wavelengths and intensity levels that actually provide therapeutic benefits
• How red light therapy works at the mitochondrial level to heal everything from thyroid issues to brain fog
• The controversial truth about looking directly at red light (and why it might improve your vision)
• Why EMF exposure and flicker in cheap devices can sabotage your healing

Red Light Therapy Benefits 101

People see red light devices used on Instagram and think they need them in their lives. So they go on Amazon and buy the first thing they see, which is problematic. Abby and I are going to share everything you need to know about red light therapy. 

What is Red Light?

This really comes down to the conversation about what is light. Light is composed of something called photons, or wavelengths of light. Imagine a squiggly wave. The distance between those peaks and valleys determines the color of a light and how we perceive the color. 

A lot of red light therapy devices are made up of red and near-infrared light. Light ultimately comes from the sun. The sun has many different wavelengths, but around 50% of the sun’s natural light is red and near-infrared light. There’s a lot of healing potential that comes from those wavelengths of light!

Red light therapy devices harness those healing wavelengths of light produced by the sun so we can benefit from them in our homes.

Can’t I just go outside? 

Yes, and you should! The sun is the best healer. The sun has the full spectrum of wavelengths that our bodies need. We also live in 2025, and the average American spends 93% of their time indoors.

There’s also the winter months to consider. It gets dark so early, and it’s hard to get time outside when it’s cold. Red light devices can help fill those gaps.

What does red light do to our bodies?

It does so many things! The core foundational piece that it does, no matter where you are using it, is that it helps heal the mitochondria of the cell. 

If you think back to sixth-grade biology, the mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell. It’s what runs every process in our body and creates energy for all of those processes to run. With direct contact treatment, you can heal your cells from the inside out. Red light supercharges the mitochondria of the cells to work better.

It’s a great, safe, very effective, low-risk way to support whatever people are looking to heal.

Here are some examples of red light therapy benefits:

• Heal, repair, and recover your thyroid
• Create energy
• Lower inflammation
• Anti-aging
• Produce collagen
• Improve cognitive function
• Increases focus
• Increases circulation and blood flow
• Reduce headaches, pain, and cramps

These are some conditions red light therapy can help improve, prevent, or slow the progress of:

• Concussion recovery
• Traumatic brain injury
• Stroke
• Parkinson’s
• Alzheimer’s
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Broken bones
• Autoimmune conditions
• Thyroid disorders

There are so many red light therapy benefits – Abby and I could go on and on!

What to Look for in a Red Light Device

The first thing to look for is what specific wavelengths of light they are using. A transparent, good-quality company will tell you, and that’ll be front and center on their website. High-quality red light therapy devices almost always contain red light and near-infrared light.

The red light should be around 660 nanometers, and the near-infrared light should be around 850 nanometers. There can be a little variability with those numbers, but right around that target is what most research has proven to be effective wavelengths.

The next thing to look at is the intensity or irradiance. This is hugely variable across products. At Fringe, they believe the sun knows best, so they use a similar intensity to what the sun is when it hits your skin.

The sun’s irradiance is between 20 and 40 milliwatts per centimeter squared. Their units are very safe, with very low sun-like intensity doses versus some companies that think they need super high-powered and intense red light devices. With those, you can only do a few minutes per session. 

The data actually shows that more time at a lower power is more effective. More isn’t always better!  

Red Light Therapy: The Swiss Army Knife!

It really does seem too good to be true! For the most part, red light therapy can improve almost any condition because it helps the cells regenerate and heal.

You can also use it on kids and animals!

Fringe Heals offers several red light devices that are absolutely amazing. You can shop their collection here and use code WENDY10 for 10% off your order.

MY FAVORITE RED LIGHTS:

• Get 40% off the LUMEBOX handheld red light
• Get 15% off the BonCharge Red Light panels with code WENDYKATHRYN
• Get 10% off Fringe Heals products with code WENDY10

FAQs About Red Light Therapy Benefits

How often should you do red light therapy?

If your goal is to get general red light therapy benefits, do it 3-5 times per week for 10-15 minutes. With this frequency, you’ll increase collagen production, reduce fine lines, and improve skin tone.

How long does red light therapy take to see results?

You’ll start to see improvements in your skin within 4-8 weeks. If you’re using red light therapy to reduce pain, just a few sessions will give you some relief.

Is red light therapy better at night or in the morning?

You can use it at any time of day and see benefits!

Related Episodes:

Episode 36: Can Red Light Therapy Actually Heal Your Thyroid?

Episode 62: How 3-Minutes of Red Light Therapy a Week Can Improve Your Eyesight

Episode 111: The Truth about Electrolytes: How Quality Minerals Change Everything