What’s the difference between red light face masks and red light panels?
Well, it turns out, a lot.
You’ve probably seen lots of influencers posting videos of themselves with a red light face mask on recently and, because I have a full body panel, have opted out of having a mask. But I wanted to do some research around whether the masks offer the same benefits and what I found confirmed my intuitive thoughts but was interested, so I thought I’d share that here to help you make a more informed decision if you are thinking of purchasing a red light option.
Firstly, if you’d like to understand more about red light therapy, head over to this very extensive article that I wrote about the subject not long ago. This article today isn’t about what red light therapy is, but rather about helping you choose between panels or masks.
So, what is the difference? Let’s see…
Power Output
The first point to make is about power output: panels have a higher power output and of course a higher power output will give you more power. When you’re looking at something like wavelengths and frequencies, especially for health, a higher power output (in the right product and produced correctly) will give you better results.
Wavelengths
The next point to mention is about wavelengths and the colours associated with them. Though we’ll get onto the problem with doing this for just beauty and skin shortly, if you are wanting red light therapy for this reason, your skin needs both near infrared as well as far infrared and the masks don’t always offer both. They also don’t always offer all the colour wavelengths you need for lasting skin changes.
Coverage
Though it seems like a mask would give you better coverage because it literally covers your face and almost wraps around it where panels are straight in front of you, the masks actually offer you less coverage as the light isn’t spread evenly over the face. This is because with the panels, they are manufactured to a much higher standard, meaning there are far more bulbs, much closer together. This is, of course, one of the reasons why the power output is higher. The more bulbs there are and the closer together they are, the more coverage you get and the more evenly it will be spread over your face. With panels (good ones like this one for example), there are many bulbs and they are close together, meaning you get more bang for your buck, so to speak. It does have to be said, though, that light doesn’t bend, so when you’re under a panel, though it is spread evenly and will reach your whole face, if you want to hit a certain part, you have to turn your face. For example, I use red light therapy as part of my healing protocol for trigeminal neuralgia, so when I’m under the light, I turn my face to the side so it specifically hits the jaw.
Get More for Your Money
Leading on from this, though a large panel will cost more, if you’re comparing based on the coverage, output and end results, you get far more for your money with a panel, in the long-run.
Functionality
The panels offer different options of functionality, for example just near infrared, just infrared or a combination. Masks tend to offer one option.
Time & Relaxation
Though I personally see my red light therapy time to be a time where I switch off from everything and don’t use my phone or anything else, you technically can do something else. Some people use their panels standing up or sitting with it facing them and they read a book. I have mine facing down onto a massage table to I can lie down, so I use it as a time to meditate. Either way, with the masks you have limited visibility and would have to be ok with sitting there without doing anything else (I don’t personally see this as a problem but it depends how much you’re killing birds with stones!).
Travel
Of course, it has to be said that the masks are more portable, so much better when travelling. You can get these small portable panels, however, if you’re going to invest in a panel, you’re better off going large and getting a full body one. My experience is that I don’t use it much when travelling anyway, but if you do travel a lot and want to do face therapy while you’re on the move, a mask would be a better option.
Health Benefits
The most important point to make, I believe, is that doing red light therapy just for skin and beauty misses the point of red light therapy. A good red light panel offers you cellular and mitochondrial support that helps with long-term health in so many ways (thyroid, inflammation, recovery, endocrine support, joints, collagen production etc.), and long-term cellular health (which yes, will include collagen production) all round leads to better skin. So, even if you are just using this for anti-ageing, you’re still better off with a panel, in my opinion. Remember also, if it’s just for lessening the potential of wrinkles that’s one thing, but for issues like acne, psoriasis, blemishes, melasma, or any other deeper skin issue, this are systemic: IE, they come from inside your body, not the skin itself (which is why dermatology is usually completely futile, IMO). For anything other than wrinkles, our approach must be a holistic one.
Alex Furgus, on his YouTube channel dedicated to understanding red light therapy, talks about this in more detail on this video.
The company I buy my red light products from is Block Blue Light. I have worked with them for a long time now and trust the quality of their panels (as well as their anti blue light products). You can use the code LV10 for a 10% discount at this link.
I also recorded this episode about red light therapy with red light expert Sarah Turner which you can listen to here.
I hope this has helped you to make an informed decision on which red light product you want to buy!
Love & health,
Lauren
