Understanding Power in LED: Why LED Light Therapy Should be Approached Like Any Other Health or Beauty Routine

When it comes to health and beauty regimes, we know that the body can only handle so much at once - lasting results can only happen over time, and trying to fast-track change by taking on too much too soon can be counterproductive. You wouldn’t attempt to lift the heaviest weight at the gym on your first day, and you wouldn’t smother your face with an entire tub of face cream expecting to see instant results. Likewise, taking a whole bottle of antibiotics at once won't give you an instant cure. The same principle applies to LED light therapy—it's not about overwhelming your body with maximum power at once but rather about consistent, measured application over time.

In marketing, the word "power" is frequently used as a buzzword to make products seem more effective to consumers. It is a broad term used to suggest better and faster results. However, as we know, when we’re talking about the body and the skin, you cannot fast track results. In fact, in the case of LED light therapy, studies have shown that a lower power over a longer time tends to produce better results. (1)

Think about it like taking medicine. You wouldn’t take all your medication at once expecting to heal faster—in fact, that would be dangerous. Instead, you follow the doctor’s prescribed dosage, spread out over time, to give your body the best chance to absorb the treatment effectively and heal.

LED light therapy works in much the same way. It’s about balancing all the factors that impact LED —wavelengths, coverage, and power over time (2) — to create the most effective "dose" of light for your skin.

The Pillars of LED Results: Optimising for Maximum Efficacy

When it comes to effective LED light therapy, there 3 pillars that determine the effectiveness of the treatment. Let’s break down these pillars, what they mean for your skin, and how we’ve optimised them in our CurrentBody Skin Series 2 LED Mask.

Just like the active ingredients in medication, precise wavelengths of light are proven in clinical studies to be the most effective at treating the skin. The more precise the wavelength, the higher quality the treatment.(3)

We created specialised testing equipment to ensure the LEDs in our mask emit the most clinically proven wavelengths with unmatched precision. This ensures that the light is optimally absorbed by your skin, for the most effective results. 

The way light is spread across the skin matters - evenly distributing the light across the entire treatment area will give better results. Even small adjustments in the number of LEDs, placements and distance from the skin can significantly impact the performance (4).

Our Series 2 Mask was tested on 1,000s of faces to give maximum coverage. The flexible Best-Fit shape allows the mask to curve naturally to your face, ensuring all areas of your face and chin are evenly exposed to the light. The multiway strap ensures the mask stays in place during treatment, maintaining consistent contact and even coverage across the skin.

Power (also commonly referred to as ‘irradiance’) is important, but more power doesn’t necessarily mean better results. As mentioned, it is common knowledge in the scientific evidence that low-level light therapy (LLLT) works best when delivered at lower power over a longer period. Too much power in a short time can overwhelm the skin, while too little may not be effective.

We carefully selected the power output of 18 joules across the whole face. We never pursued the idea of increasing the power output, because as mentioned, a higher power alone would not improve the results. By balancing power with a 10-minute treatment time, we ensure the mask is safe, effective and convenient, fitting easily into skincare routines.

As you can see from the colorimeter images below, by optimising the 3 pillars of LED results, The Series 2 mask delivers a complete, more even treatment across the full face when compared to a traditional flexible LED mask.

The Limitations of Measuring Power: What Studies Can’t Tell Us

When it comes to LED light therapy, it is widely accepted that it is not currently possible to measure the precise amount of energy absorbed by the skin during a treatment. Most studies have measured power density using a tool called a spectrometer, but this only tells part of the story. 

A spectrometer is only capable of measuring the power emitted at a single point on an LED mask.

However, this doesn’t account for all the other factors that affect how much light your skin actually absorbs, including: 

• Distance from the skin: In LED masks, the proximity of the light to the skin makes a significant difference in how the light is absorbed compared to LED panels (which are the devices commonly used in scientific studies), which are typically set further away from the skin. However, this isn't captured in a simple power density reading.
• LED placement: The number and arrangement of LEDs on a mask impact how evenly the light is distributed across the skin.

In conclusion, LED light therapy should be treated like any other health and beauty regime, requiring a consistent and balanced approach for lasting results. Achieving optimal results relies on balancing the three key pillars of LED results: wavelength precision, even coverage, and balanced power over time. These factors work together to ensure the skin absorbs light most effectively, providing safe and measurable benefits over time. By focusing on these pillars rather than chasing higher power, LED therapy will deliver effective, long-term improvements in skin health.