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Striving for peak human performance like Bryan Johnson? You've seen his red light panel, but the internet is a mess of copycats, leaving you wondering what's real.
Bryan Johnson uses a full-body red light therapy setup as a core part of his Project Blueprint. While he hasn't named a specific brand, his focus is on devices with clinically proven wavelengths and high power output, which are the true markers of an effective, medical-grade device.
A full-body panel provides comprehensive light exposure.
It's easy to get caught up in chasing the exact brand a biohacker like Johnson uses. But as someone who's been in the LED therapy manufacturing game for over 15 years, I can tell you that's the wrong approach. The secret isn't the logo on the front; it's the certified technology inside. He's a data guy, and he focuses on what can be measured: wavelengths, power, and dose. Let's break down what that actually means for you.
You want a device backed by a biohacking authority, but Johnson's silence on brands leaves you guessing. This ambiguity can feel frustrating when you're ready to invest.
He doesn't recommend a brand; he recommends results based on science. This means panels delivering specific, therapeutic wavelengths (primarily 660nm and 850nm) at a high power density, or irradiance1. The goal is a therapeutic dose of light that triggers real biological benefits for cellular energy and repair.
Johnson's entire "Project Blueprint" is built on objective data, and his choice of red light therapy is no different. He isn't swayed by slick marketing; he's interested in the raw output that generates a physiological response. Here's what he—and you—should be looking for:
Clinically-Proven Wavelengths: The vast majority of clinical research points to two sweet spots in the light spectrum. Red light at 660nm is fantastic for skin health, as it's readily absorbed by the upper layers to boost collagen and reduce inflammation. Near-infrared (NIR) light at 850nm penetrates deeper to help with muscle recovery, joint pain, and organ health. A quality panel should feature both.
High Irradiance (Power Density): This is the single most important metric after wavelength. Irradiance, measured in milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm²), is the amount of light energy hitting your body at a specific distance. High irradiance means you can get a therapeutic dose in less time. Think of it like this: a low-irradiance device is like trying to get a tan with a 10-watt bulb. It's just not going to work efficiently.
The term "medical grade" is plastered on everything, making it feel meaningless. You're trying to avoid cheap junk, but every brand claims to be the best and safest.
Forget the marketing fluff. A device's "grade" is determined by internationally recognized certifications. Look for proof of ISO 13485, MDSAP, and FDA or CE clearance. These aren't just logos; they are hard-won validations that a manufacturer adheres to the highest standards for medical device quality, safety, and production.
These logos represent rigorous quality and safety standards.
As a factory owner, I see this term abused constantly. Any brand can slap "medical grade" on their website, but very few can back it up. True quality comes from the manufacturing process itself. At REDDOT LED, we've spent 15 years building a system that meets the world's most stringent requirements. This allows our B2B clients to build their own brands on a foundation of verifiable quality.
Here's what these certifications actually mean for you, the end-user or business owner:
Certification | What It Is | Why It's Critical |
---|---|---|
ISO 13485 | An international standard for a Quality Management System for Medical Devices.2 | It proves the factory has rigorous processes for design, production, and traceability. Every component is tracked and verified. |
MDSAP | The Medical Device Single Audit Program.3 | An intensive audit allowing a manufacturer to meet the requirements of multiple countries at once (USA, Canada, Australia, etc.). |
FDA / CE | Regulatory clearance for the US (Food and Drug Administration)4 and European markets.5 | Confirms the device is safe and effective for its intended use, a crucial step for legal and trusted market entry. |
When a company has these, it's not just a claim—it's proof they have the systems, the self-built lab, and the professional R&D team to produce a device that is both safe and powerful.
You see the before-and-after photos of Bryan Johnson's hair and feel a mix of hope and skepticism. Is red light therapy the magic bullet for hair regrowth?
Bryan Johnson's impressive hair regrowth comes from a multi-pronged attack, not just one device. Red light therapy is a key player that improves scalp circulation and energizes hair follicles6, but he combines it with a custom topical formula, microneedling, and other targeted treatments for a synergistic effect.
Hoping a red light panel alone will solve significant hair loss is setting yourself up for disappointment. It's a powerful tool, but it works best as part of a comprehensive strategy, or "stack." Here's how RLT contributes:
Increased Blood Flow: The light energy stimulates vasodilation in the scalp, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to deprived hair follicles.
Reduced Inflammation: Chronic inflammation can choke hair follicles and accelerate hair loss. RLT is a potent anti-inflammatory agent.
Enhanced Cellular Energy: By stimulating the mitochondria within the cells of the hair follicle, RLT can help "wake up" dormant follicles and encourage them to shift back into the anagen (growth) phase.
Johnson's protocol acknowledges this. He stacks RLT with other proven methods to attack the problem from every angle. If you're looking into RLT for hair health, consider it a foundational therapy that makes other treatments more effective.
You're interested in the science, but want to know if the medical community is on board. Will your dermatologist laugh you out of the room if you bring this up?
The dermatology community is increasingly embracing red light therapy. Most dermatologists view it as a legitimate, non-invasive tool for stimulating collagen, reducing inflammation, accelerating wound healing, and treating conditions like acne.7 Their support is based on a growing body of positive clinical studies.
The medical community supports RLT for many conditions.
For years, the idea of "light" as a treatment sounded like science fiction. But the evidence has become too hard to ignore. Here are the primary applications that have won over skin experts:
The key caveat from dermatologists is always the same: device quality matters. They know that a cheap, underpowered device from an unverified source won't deliver the same results seen in clinical trials.
You see devices with wildly different power ratings and session time recommendations. How do you find the "Goldilocks" level that's just right, not too weak or too strong?
The best "level" is about delivering the right dose, which is a combination of the light's power (irradiance) and the duration of your session. For skin health, a lower dose is effective. For deeper tissues like muscles and joints, a higher dose is required to penetrate effectively.
The right dose is a mix of power and time.
Thinking in terms of "dosage" is far more useful than thinking about a generic "level." The formula is simple: Dose (Joules/cm²) = Irradiance (mW/cm²) x Time (in seconds) / 1000. While you don't need to do the math every time, understanding the principle helps you choose a device and use it correctly. An honest manufacturer will provide clear irradiance levels at various distances.
Here's a general guide to get you started:
Primary Goal | Typical Irradiance (at 6 inches) | Recommended Session Time |
---|---|---|
Skin Anti-Aging | 40-60 mW/cm² | 3-10 minutes per area |
Acne & Surface Skin | 30-50 mW/cm² | 3-5 minutes per area |
Deep Tissue/Muscle | >100 mW/cm² | 10-15 minutes per area |
General Wellness | 80-120 mW/cm² | 10-20 minutes total |
This is why having a powerful, high-irradiance device is so valuable. It gives you the flexibility to get a strong dose for deep tissue work quickly or to back away for a gentler, lower-dose session for your face. It all comes back to having a quality, certified device where the stated specs are real and verified in a lab.9
Bryan Johnson's approach confirms a core industry truth: results come from certified technology, not celebrity brands. True "medical-grade" quality is proven by certifications like ISO 13485 and FDA clearance, ensuring the device's safety, power, and efficacy.
References
ISO 13485:2016 – Medical devices — Quality management systems ↩
Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) for treatment of hair loss, Pinar Avci, MD, et al., Aug 2019 ↩
[Phototherapy with Light Emitting Diodes Treating a Broad Range of Medical and Aesthetic Conditions in Dermatology,Published 2018]https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5843358/) ↩
A Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Red and Near-Infrared Light Treatment in Patient Satisfaction, Reduction of Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Skin Roughness, and Intradermal Collagen Density Increase, Alexander Wunsch & Karsten Matuschka, Feb 2014 ↩
Biphasic Dose Response in Low Level Light Therapy, Ying-Ying Huang, et al., Nov 2009 ↩