A Buyer’s Due Diligence Guide

Irradiance, measured in milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm²), tells you how much optical energy the device delivers to a given surface area. It is the single most important spec in red light therapy because it determines therapeutic dose. The problem: there is no universal standard requiring manufacturers to measure at the same distance, with the same meter, or across the same surface area.

What Does Irradiance Actually Measure in Red Light Therapy?

Irradiance is optical power per unit area, expressed in milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm²). In plain terms, it tells you how much light energy is landing on each square centimeter of the treatment surface at a given point in space.

Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine online.