LED light therapy is often associated with facial skincare, but larger LED panels are designed to support much more than the complexion alone.
From muscle recovery and joint support to skin health, circulation and cellular energy, full body LED light therapy is becoming an increasingly popular tool for those looking to support recovery, wellness and overall physical wellbeing.
By combining Red Light and Near Infrared wavelengths, LED panels can be used across larger treatment areas including the back, legs, shoulders and chest.
In this guide we explore how LED panels work, why Near Infrared light is gaining attention and how to choose between the LuminAGE 300, 900 and 1800 LED Panels now that all three are available.
What an LED panel do that a face mask doesn't
Our LED Light Therapy Face Mask is built to sit against the contours of the face, which is exactly right for facial skincare but limits it to that one area. A panel works differently. Rather than being worn, it is positioned a short distance away and treats whatever area is placed in front of it, whether that is the shoulders, back, legs, chest or face.
That distance matters. Treating from a few inches away instead of resting directly on the skin means one device can cover a shoulder, a knee or a full back in a single session, areas a worn face mask was never designed to reach. It is also why panels are built with considerably more LEDs and higher output than a face mask, to make sure enough light still reaches the skin from that working distance. We go through exactly how that dose is calculated in our guide to irradiance and energy dose.
Why choose the LuminAGE LED Panel series
Most LED panels on the market offer two or three wavelengths. The LuminAGE series delivers five. Red at 630nm and 660nm treats the surface. Near infrared across 810nm, 830nm and 850nm reaches deeper. Every LuminAGE panel gives you both in the same session.
A typical LED panel has a 60 degree beam angle. Ours is 30. Half the angle. Double the focus. More of the output lands on the area you are treating, not the space around it.
Every LED in the range is dual chip, engineered for real output rather than an impressive number on a spec sheet. We measure irradiance ourselves rather than quoting a manufacturer's claim. The LuminAGE 300 Panel reaches up to 125mW/cm2, the 900 Panel up to 170mW/cm2 and the 1800 Panel up to 180mW/cm2, each figure measured at three inches away. Numbers you can trust, not numbers you have to take on faith.
Not every LuminAGE panel is the same
The LuminAGE range covers three panels and they are genuinely different tools rather than the same device in different price brackets. The LuminAGE 300 Panel is a compact tabletop unit, 60 dual chip LEDs across five wavelengths in a 320mm by 220mm footprint, built for targeted sessions on the face, a shoulder or a knee rather than large area coverage.
The LuminAGE 900 Panel sits between the two. With 180 dual chip LEDs and the same wavelength set, it bridges the tabletop 300 Panel and the full body 1800 Panel and comes with door hanger and mounting hardware so it can be used freestanding or hung for a broader session across the back, chest or legs. The LuminAGE 1800 Panel is the flagship, 360 dual chip LEDs across a 890mm by 400mm panel, built for the largest treatment areas in one pass rather than repositioning a smaller device around the body.
All three share the same wavelength set (Red at 630nm and 660nm, Near Infrared across 810nm, 830nm and 850nm), the same wireless USB-C rechargeable handset for controlling wavelength mode, session time and pulse frequency and the same 30 degree beam angle, tighter than the 60 degree angle common on many panels, which concentrates output on the treatment area rather than spreading it across the surrounding space.
Red light and near infrared, working at different depths
Red light at 630 to 660nm works at the surface and mid layers of the skin, where it is associated with the appearance of firmer, more even toned skin. Near infrared, spanning 810 to 850nm on the LuminAGE panels, is not visible and reaches further into the tissue and muscle beneath the skin, which is why it is more closely associated with circulation and recovery than with visible skin change. We cover why depth, not strength, is the real difference between the two in our guide to red light versus near infrared.
What is actually happening in your cells
The mechanism behind both wavelengths sits inside the mitochondria, the part of the cell responsible for producing energy. A 2023 study published in Skin Research and Technology found that red LED light activates an enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase, increasing the mitochondria's production of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which in turn supports the cell's own repair processes. Over three months of twice weekly treatment, the study measured a 38 percent reduction in crow's feet wrinkling and a 48 percent increase in dermal density (Couturaud et al, 2023, Reverse skin aging signs by red light photobiomodulation). This is the same mechanism behind every device in our range, we go through it in full in our guide to photobiomodulation.
Recovery, not just skincare
Because a panel can treat muscle groups and joints directly rather than only the face, full body LED light therapy has become popular for reasons that go beyond skincare. Near infrared in particular is commonly associated with supporting circulation, easing the feeling of muscle fatigue after exercise and general joint comfort. For anyone building an LED routine around both skin and recovery, a panel session works well after a workout or on a rest day.
Which LuminAGE panel suits you
If you mostly want targeted sessions on a shoulder, a knee or a facial top up alongside your face mask, the compact LuminAGE 300 Panel is the natural starting point. It also suits limited spaces and the lower price makes it an easy way in. If you want to treat larger areas of the back, chest or legs without repositioning the device repeatedly through a session, the LuminAGE 900 Panel covers considerably more ground while staying manageable in a bedroom or home gym. The LuminAGE 1800 Panel is built for anyone who wants a genuine full body session in one pass, the largest panel in the range and the highest output of the three.
Across all three, position the panel 15 to 50cm from the area being treated, start at the lowest energy setting and shortest session time while your skin adjusts and build up gradually. The general guidance across the range is three to four sessions a week at 10 to 30 minutes each. As with any LED device, cleanse the area first and remove make up, creams or serums.
Certifications, in plain terms
Every LuminAGE panel is CE and RoHS marked, ISO 13485 certified and manufactured in an FDA registered facility. This is a different set of certifications to the FDA 510(k) clearance carried by our standard LED Face Mask specifically, not a lesser one and it is worth understanding what each actually covers rather than judging a device on a single acronym. We explain exactly what each certification means in our guide to FDA, CE and ISO 13485 for LED devices.
Common questions
What is the difference between an LED panel and an LED face mask?
A face mask is worn against the contours of the face and is built specifically for facial skincare. A panel is positioned a short distance away and can treat the face, or much larger areas of the body, in the same session.
How do I choose between the LuminAGE 300, 900 and 1800?
The 300 Panel is a compact tabletop unit suited to targeted sessions and smaller spaces. The 900 Panel bridges tabletop and full body use for larger areas like the back or legs. The 1800 Panel is the flagship, built for full body coverage in one pass.
How far should I stand from an LED panel?
Across the LuminAGE range, position the panel 15 to 50cm from the area you are treating, adjusting within that range based on comfort and the energy setting used.
How often should I use an LED panel?
Most people use an LED panel three to four times a week for 10 to 30 minutes per session, building up gradually from the lowest energy setting and shortest session time.
Can I use a panel instead of my LED Face Mask?
You can use a panel on the face, but a worn face mask holds a consistent distance and coverage across the whole face that a panel cannot replicate in the same way. Many people use both, a face mask for focused facial sessions and a panel for the body.
If you are not sure which LuminAGE panel fits your space and goals, take a look at the full LED Light Therapy collection to compare the range, or email us at help@purederma.co.uk and we will help you work out which one is right for you.
