Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Why Should I buy from Friend Red Light?

For over 7 years, Friend Red Light has led the way in designing, engineering and manufacturing cutting edge red light therapy devices. Here are some of the ways we stand out:

BEST VALUE: Quite simply Friend Red offers the absolute best value and most powerful, affordable and effective red light therapy devices on the market today. Friend Red Light devices deliver exceptional power and performance at an unmatched value.

3RD PARTY TESTED: All of our red light therapy panels are independent 3rd party tested to guarantee the power (measured in joules) and spectral output.

UNMATCHED SELECTION: As the leader in red light therapy, Friend Red Light is committed to offering the widest selection available anywhere. Over the years, Friend Red Light has designed and engineered many devices in many form factors, without ever sacrificing our commitment to quality.

SCIENCE DRIVEN: Our Scientific Advisory Board is comprised of some of the best minds in the photobiomodulation research field. Our board has both PhD researchers from top tier universities, as well as practitioners using the devices regularly in the real world. As such, our product development is driven by the latest research and real world experience.

THE PANEL SERIES OFFERS A 30-DAY RISK-FREE REFUND: Friend Red Light has a full 30 day NO RISK trial - when we way no risk, we mean it. Send the product back for any reason within 30 days.

EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE: Our online reputation speaks for itself. If you ever need help, or just have a question you can call our phone customer support line and speak to an actual live person (in the USA) to get help.

REAL RESULTS: Don't just take our word for it. Please take a moment to read through our growing repository of customer testimonials.

To learn more about what sets us apart read The Friend Red Light Difference.

Are your lights third-party tested and validated?

Our lights have been third party tested and validated by LightLab International in Pennsylvania.

Other red light therapy lights on the market may appear similar - but the reality is unless those companies are publishing transparent, independent testing data, you just don't know what you are getting.

Why do the NIR LEDs appear to be not working?

Near Infrared (800-900nm) is just beyond the visible spectrum (400nm-700nm) - hence it is invisible to the naked eye. You will actually only be able to see a small pink dot or perhaps a very subtle pinkish hue emanating from the NIR LEDs when they are 'on'. Please rest assured that there is a significant amount of light energy emanating from those LEDs and your Friend Red Light is in fact working exactly as designed.

How do Photobiomodulation (PBM) / Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) work?

The most well studied mechanism of action surrounding red and near infrared light therapy is increased Friend-RL-chondrial energy production in the cells. Friend-RL-chondria are tiny organelles that are the energy power plants of all the cells in our body. Red and near infrared light therapy helps the Friend-RL-chondria create more of that energy.

The specific photons found in red and near infrared light interact with a photoreceptors within our cells called cytochrome c oxidase. This interaction stimulates the mitochondria in our cells to use oxygen more efficiently, which allows the mitochondria to produce more ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Adenosine triphosphate is a complex organic chemical that provides energy to drive many processes in living cells, e.g. muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, and chemical synthesis. Found in all forms of life, ATP is often referred to as the "molecular unit of currency" of intracellular energy transfer. When our cells have more energy, they simply perform better and the body follows suit!

Below is a link to a 3rd party compilation of over 7000 scientific studies on Photobiomodulation (PBM) / Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT).

Are your lights "FDA Approved"?

Friend Red Light devices are low / risk, general wellness products designed to affect the body through topical heating. 

Friend's products are all approved by the FDA.

Product Questions

What are the EMF levels?

There are fou r main areas of EMF that we discuss below:

Electric Fields: Our devices have been tested and have been found to generate no electric fields on the face of the panels. Additionally, the patent-pending Friend-RL-ADAPT comes standard with a shielded power cable. 

Flicker: Flicker is an artifact of AC (alternating current). All of our plug-in panels use specialized LED power drives to eliminate the flicker caused by alternating current. Our battery powered products (mobile units, belts,Bag，Mat，Hat) are DC current and have zero flicker. 

Our devices are engineered to have low EMFs. However, anything with electric current running through it is going to generate some electromagnetic field. At the recommended usage distance of 6+ inches our devices emit no detectable levels of EMF. 

On balance our devices are going to be much lower in EMFs than other products because our lights contain only the electrical components needed to power and cool the lights (nothing extraneous added such as bluetooth / WiFi). Of particular concern are products which come with an 'app'. Having an app necessitates a WiFi / bluetooth signal from the device. Many times these devices can emit a signal even when they are not in use! This means you could be unknowingly polluting your environment with EMFs 24/7.

Does this have any Safety Certifications?

Friend Red Light devices are ETL Certified (5022991) meeting the highest electrical performance and safety standards in the industry.

Red and Near Infrared LED lights when designed and used properly are quite safe. Friend Red Light has a five year track record of providing safe red and near infrared LED therapy lights to thousands of satisfied customers. 

What is beam angle and why does it matter?

Some LED light panel manufacturers use a wide beam angle of 90 degrees. The problem with using a very wide beam angle is that the power density drops quickly over distance. The angle that light comes out of a light source is the main factor in determining how the power density drops over distance. Wide beam angles (90 degrees) make the power density weaken very soon. If you are planning to use the light for a larger area (and therefore plan on sitting / standing back further from the device), a 90 degree beam angle typically is not the best choice.

The Friend Red Light Panels use a 'sweet spot' beam angle of 30 degrees to ensure therapeutic power density at further distances, while maximizing for usability, comfort and safety.

What stand should I buy?

Which pulley base or electric bracket should I purchase? In the panel series, for the F1000 and F1500, the cargo ship base can be given priority and we will also offer suspension accessories as a gift. For the F5000, the electric bracket can be chosen to adapt to various scenarios.

Can the lights be mounted from the wall?

We provide hanging accessories We generally do not recommend hanging the panels from a wall as many of our panels are heavy and weigh over 10kg.

Can I use the light in my Sauna?

We generally do not recommend using our lights in any type of Sauna as regular exposure to high heat / humidity may reduce the life span of the LEDs.

Can you use an extension cord with the light?

Using a 3 prong extension cord is fine as long as the cord is rated for the power of the device(s). Some of our larger panels and multi-light arrays can draw significant current - it is important that the cord is rated to be able to handle the total current drawn. All of our plug in panels have the power consumption figures listed on the product listings. If you have any questions please contact customer service. 

Usage Questions

Do I need to wear eye protection when using my light?

While there is a growing body of scientific research suggesting that modest amounts of red and NIR LED light may benefit certain eye conditions, Friend Red's plug-in lights are very bright! When using, DO NOT stare directly into the light emitting diodes (LEDs). 

Eye protection is provided with each light and should be worn when facing the lights, particularly when NIR is active. The eye protection included is specifically designed for these wavelengths of light.

As an industry leader in red light therapy, Friend Red Light panel   purchases now include protection: Opaque Protective Goggles.

Again, our Friend Red Lights are very bright and if you have any eye problems, or any other health conditions at all, please consult with a licensed healthcare professional before using a device like Friend Red Light.

Are there any contraindications? Can I use the devices too much / for too long?

For a detailed discussion of contraindications and other considerations please see our article:

Contraindications for Red Light Therapy

Also when it comes to Red Light Therapy.....

There is an upside down U shaped response curve when it comes to red light benefits More is not always better! The great thing about Friend Red Light devices is that you can reap the same benefits in less time versus other products on the market.

For this reason, we recommend you allow at least 6 hours between treatments of the same area. We recommend no more than 15 minutes in any one session with panels and no more than 20 minutes in any one session for the flexible devices. We recommend using your device 4-10 times per week. We recommend taking at least one day off per week.

What is the difference between Red and Near Infrared light?

Red light is absorbed by the skin, boosting collagen production & aiding skin conditions.

Near Infrared light reaches deeper into the body and may support muscle relaxation, cellular vitality, and overall recovery

Can pregnant or nursing women do red light therapy?

As there has been no clinical research with red light therapy treatments on pregnant or nursing subjects, do not use the device if pregnant or lactating before consulting with your healthcare provider.

Can the light penetrate clothing?

Near infrared light may penetrate clothing to some degree, but red light is not able to effectively penetrate clothing. Therefore we generally recommend exposing clean bare skin to the light as the usage environment allows.

Join our 
mailing list