Red Light Therapy - Dimalux Review

[Twickle Purple]

I will post on each of the 4 different units as they come in. This is the first unit to arrive. I have the Red panels and the Red + Near Infrared but will post about the Red at first.

http://www.kennedylee.com/TP3/Devices/Dimalux-first.jpg

Dimalux Specifications from the Web site

3 Panels: 2268 LEDs Total
Panel Size: 5.5in x 9in (13.9cm x 22.8cm)
Peak Wave:
Blue 415nm +/- 5nm
Radiant Flux (mW)
45-50mW per LED
4 LEDs per cm2
Up to 150mW/cm2
Other Interchangable Colors:
Red = 660nm +/- 5nm
Near Infrared = 880nm
Infrared = 940nm
Green = 525nm
Yellow = 590nm
White
Other colors available upon request
Pulse: Duty Cycle 10% ^= 135mW
Freq.: Duty Cycle 50% ^= 48mW
120vac or 220vac, 47Hz to 63Hz
Weight: 35lb
Watts: 250W
Load: 5.0 Amps

Total Cost (US$):
Dimalux all red 660nm lamp $5999.00
3 panels of red/near-infrared 660nm/880nm $1999.00
Shipping to Canada $200.00
Credit Card Charge $150.00
3 Years parts and labor warranty $0.00
Total $ 8348.00


First Inspection

This is big and heavy. It has enamel paint, which is unevenly applied. The wiring is enclosed in cheap plastic sheathing. There are two areas where the grommets have popped away from the head and a bit of wiring is pulled and exposed. Some wires were missing sheathing. The heads each have a fan. The arm attachment is on the central head and affixed with a heavy bolt. This bolt is too long and has bent and pushed the cage covering the central fan inwards. This does not impede the fan operation. No literature.

Setup

We bought a printer table from Canadian Tire to put it on. The table is hard wood, very stable and has locking castors so that we can move the unit around. We placed a UPS surge protector/power bar on the tables lower shelf and plugged the unit into that, so the unit is kept as stable as possible while moving about. This unit requires a permanent set-up so a space was needed to accommodate the unit and a table to lie on. I have large UPS units (http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=27) that wash power and provide a seamless uninterruptible power supply for my computers, I will use one of these to safeguard this investment.

Initial Impressions

I was leery about using this with no documentation and before I had secured some sort of device to measure output. But, I'd waited for this unit with a lot of anticipation and my impatience won out.

I tested the unit out on my shins. The skin is atrophied from steroid over-use and if I had a bad reaction it is an area that does not get a lot of fabric contact.

I turn the power bar on, then the unit. The unit has a pulse/continuous toggle switch, a timer with 10, 20 & 30 minute options, pulse rate and power level knobs (but no indication of what the levels mean in terms of output) and a controller knob for Normal (untimed) and Timed usage. This knob is set to Reset with each use, as a ‘reboot.’

http://www.kennedylee.com/TP3/Devices/Dimalux-Controls.jpg

I used it three times on my shins, each time with a steady light for 10 minutes, first at 3” distance, then after 24 hours at 2” and finally at 0-1” after 12 hours. The next morning I tried the pulse setting for 10 minutes. So I had 4 applications in the first 2-1/2 days. My shins were pale and cool… and thinner!? I was not even aware that I had swelling until it was gone.

Next, we did a facial application on my husband. 10 minutes: 5 minutes of steady light followed by 5 minutes pulse. Power and pulse set to mid. For this he wore the metal eye shield goggles. Proximity approx. 2”.

http://www.kennedylee.com/TP3/Devices/Dimalux-app.jpg

The fan units gently blow cool air so the face is comfortable the whole time. He found the experience pleasant and had no side effects.

Next, I tried it on my face, with 10 minutes continuous followed by 10 minutes pulse. Power and pulse set to mid. My face was visibly paler for the following few hours. This was a morning application. I chose to try this again that evening. I was going to have a bath and I am always very flushed following this and the next day especially. I used mid-power, mid-pulse for 10 minutes and then had a nice hot tub. I was flushed under my jaw where the light did not reach but everywhere else I was markedly less colored. I looked gently rosy, if that.

My first impressions after using this a few times are positive. Not knowing output is a concern. However, touching the LEDs after 20 minutes of operation they remained cool to the touch.

Twickle Purple

[rwilliamson320]

WOW that looks cool.

I think I might have to email David to get detail on making my own red light

[IowaDavid]

I mean, you could do that level on your own, but it would take some sort of modulator to do a pulsing treatment. I'd need to read about that. PM me if you want the instructions for something...more modest and uglier (but, you've got your eyes closed, so it really doesn't matter. ;) )

Looks pretty cool, TP. :) Nice that there's a built-in fan--good touch. That thing is a beast! I was browsing the Dimalux pages the other day...wow.

[Twickle Purple]

You can get the same cooling effect plugging in a good old fashioned fan :lol: This beastie was beaucoup bucks, and your fabrication gives the same benefit as this. If I was in the least bit technical I would have made my own!

[Twickle Purple]

I have been using this almost everyday, I missed two non-consecutive days before my Gemini and I skipped the 3 days following the Gemini just to be prudent as I was extremely swollen. As soon as the swelling began to subside I resumed.

I still do not use the pulse, but I am up to 30 minutes a day. This past weekend I did 2x20 minute sessions in one day. Most of the time I run the massage mat while I lay there, I think it helps to increase circulation. My crows feet are disappearing, a welcome bonus. My face is retaining its moisture now to the point where I wake up in the morning with my face still very shiny from the previous nights application of MetroCream and vaseline. I have applied vaseline to my face at least once a day for as long as I can remember. And my skin is so dry that it looks matte within an hour -- tops. I'm thinking I might just skip a night or two and see what happens. I have stopped taking my hydroxyzine, my flushing is sporadic now and my overall AD itching is reduced to the point where I do not have to apply ointment everyday either. I can only attribute this to the RLT as there are no other influences.

So far, I am seeing unexpected and very pleasant added benefits. I really like this.

[redhotoz]

Thanks for the up-date TP.

I would so love to have a massage mat whilst laying under my array! Sounds wonderfully relaxing!

Jen

[Twickle Purple]

Come on over, I'll put on some tea :wink:
The mat does help me relax and get snoozy. It's one of the Squishy Homedics mats, really comfy. I highly recommend it.

[Twickle Purple]

This site is geared to veterinarians, as they have been using this since the early 70s. Anyone interested in LLLT should read articles regarding this usage, this is akin to animals 'trials' and has the most information. It also references human studies.

http://www.emersonww.com/LaserFAQs.htm

An excerpt:

Q. Are there any negative effects from LLLT?

A. In all the years that low level lasers have been tested in research and clinical applications, no adverse side effects or negative impacts have been reported. This is why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies lasers like the Respond Laser Therapy Systems as “Non-Significant Risk” devices, requiring a minimum of safety precautions. The only precaution is that which discourages direct viewing of the laser beam. Care should be exercised not to stare into the laser beam or to point it at the eyes, and the use of safety glasses is recommended.

Q. How long have low level lasers been used for therapy?

A. Low level lasers have been used by doctors in hospitals and clinics in Europe on both humans and animals since the early 1970’s. In fact, the first studies reporting positive effects of laser on wound healing in rats were reported by the Hungarian researcher Andre Mester as early as 1968. In the United States, therapeutic lasers have been used by veterinarians since the late 1970’s. Just recently the U.S. FDA has given marketing approval to laser therapy devices for human use, beginning the trend to widespread use of LLLT in the United States.

Q. In simple terms, what does LLLT do?

A. A huge amount of research data has been collected on the effects of laser therapy (over 2000 double-blind studies) both in laboratory and clinical settings. The following excerpts demonstrate some of the most significant results: (Check the bibliography if you would like to do some in-depth reading.)

1. Wound healing is significantly improved by low level laser therapy, even non-healing wounds, thought to be due to the increased level of collagen brought about by laser treatment. Collagen, the chief constituent of connective tissue, is recognized as the most important ingredient in wound healing. See Dr. Andre F. Mester and Dr. Adam Mester, LLLT and Wound Healing, John Wiley and Sons, Ltd., 1989.

2. Increases in blood flow by means of capillary and arterial widening of the lumen of blood vessels, vasodilatation. See Dr. Toshiaki Kami, Effects of Low Power Diode Lasers, Annals of Plastic Surgery, Vol. 14, No. 3, March 1985. (Dr. Kami’s work also showed that the laser light significantly increased the formation of new capillary paths in treated areas, which resulted in increased circulation.)

3. Marked improvement in re-establishment of the lymphatic system after trauma, resulting in reduction of swelling. This is due to the evacuation of dirty proteins by the regenerated lymphatic vessels. (See Dr. P.C. Lieven, The Influence of Laser on the Lymphatic Systems, Presented at the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Eight Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas 4/25-4/28, 1988)

4. Laser light stimulates release of the body’s own killing chemicals such as endorphins and enkephalins Facilitating natural, long lasting pain relief. Dr. Wolfgang Rauermeister, Director of Pain Control Center at Parkwood Hospital, Massachusetts, USA has provided the best explanation of these pain reduction capabilities:
“The laser light stimulates the release of the body’s own pain killing chemicals such as endorphins and enkephalins from the brain, adrenal glands, and other areas, thus facilitating long lasting pain relief.”

Low level laser therapy is an effective therapy, working in harmony with the body’s own healing and relieving mechanisms. There are no harmful side effects reported from laser therapy.


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An LED and a laser device using 660nm wavelength light will create the same response in the body. The difference is coherent and non-coherent light.

Here's a bit from this site (http://www.redlighthealing.com/facts.htm) that explains it succinctly:

Monochromatic single wavelength light can only be produced in two ways - Low Power/Cold Laser (coherent light) or with a powerful light-emitting diode, LED (non-coherent light). Although much of the low power laser research is directly applicable to the use of LED's, LED's non-coherent light is entirely safe.

Dr Tiina Karu, of the Laser Technology Centre of Russia, found in the late 80's that the non-coherent light (LED's) was found to be as effective as coherent light and without the risk associated with cold lasers.

[kimmyd]

Any update on how this is working. Has anyone else gotten this?

[Twickle Purple]

Hi kimmyd,

This devise works very well for me. I would say that Red Light Therapy has been of enormous benefit to my quality of life.

There are many sizes and shapes of devices available. This particular unit is in the professional range, and a nicer version is now available.

Most users opt for something more reasonably attainable. In the case of LLLT, size matters at the onset only, eventually benefits are seen regardless of the size of the unit. The key criteria being the correct wavelength and committed use. With a large unit the results may be seen or felt quicker, but within a year the results are no different than if one used a smaller device. As long as coverage was equal.

TP

[maxrempel]

Dear All,
A year past since the last comment in this thread. Could you please update me on the progress of your healing?

Did the good results stay this way? Do you stop treatments for a wile once in while? I heard that after few months it is worth making a break for a month or so, that somehow make the LLLT treatments more efficient. Any insights on that?

Thanks all!
Love and light!
Max