The four specs that matter
Spa owners often compare panels by LED count or wattage. Both are poor guides to results. The numbers that matter are irradiance at your treatment distance, the wavelength mix, the area the panel covers and how long it can run without overheating.
Irradiance and distance
Irradiance is the light power reaching the skin, measured in mW/cm². It drops quickly as distance increases, so always ask for readings at 15, 30 and 45 cm. A panel that measures well only at 5 cm will feel weak at a comfortable client distance.
Wavelength mix
Red light at 630 and 660 nm is absorbed near the skin surface and is the focus of most skincare protocols. Near-infrared at 810–850 nm reaches deeper tissue and is used for recovery. Many professional panels now combine five to seven wavelengths.
Coverage and room layout
- Face and neck: a 300W tabletop panel or LED mask
- Half body: a 600W panel on a floor stand
- Full body: a 1000W+ panel, two linked panels or a bed
Duty cycle and cooling
A home panel might run 20 minutes a day. A spa panel may run eight hours. Look for aluminium heat sinks, quiet fans and drivers rated for continuous use, and ask how long the supplier’s burn-in test lasts.
Supplier checklist
- Irradiance report at multiple distances
- Flicker and EMF readings
- CE, FCC and RoHS documents
- Warranty length and spare-parts policy
- Sample lead time and MOQ