Everything You Need to Know
About Your LUMNAE Panel

Always wear your protective goggles before switching the panel on. For your very first session, run just 5 minutes at 20–25cm distance — this is a test session to check how your body responds to the light. Think of it like stepping into a cold pool: nothing wrong with getting your toes wet first.

From week 2 onwards, increase gradually by 2–3 minutes every few days, working up toward the full recommended duration for your chosen mode. Start with UNIVERSAL mode for a balanced full-spectrum introduction. Expose bare skin — clothing blocks the light. There is no preparation needed beyond removing thick creams or oils from the area you are treating.

The recommended range is 10 to 25cm from bare skin. Closer positioning increases irradiance and dose — 10–15cm is ideal for skin and targeted surface applications. 15–25cm is recommended for deep tissue, full-body sessions and for beginners. For scalp treatments, 10–20cm is ideal. Never position the panel closer than 5cm. There is no heat risk at any recommended distance — the panel emits zero UV and no significant thermal energy.

3 to 7 sessions per week is the recommended frequency — one rest day per week is generally advisable. Session length depends on the mode: from 10 minutes for skin protocols up to 20 minutes for recovery, pain and sleep. The maximum per session is 20 minutes — do not exceed this within any 8-hour period. Results in photobiomodulation are cumulative: consistency over weeks matters more than session intensity. Most people notice initial changes within 2–4 weeks. Measurable outcomes for collagen, pain and hair typically appear after 8–12 weeks of regular use.

Each wavelength targets different tissue depths and biological mechanisms. 480nm acts at the skin surface, activating porphyrins to support clarity and reduce surface bacteria. 590nm supports lymphatic drainage and microcirculation for a visible detox glow. 630–670nm drives collagen synthesis and cellular repair in the dermis — 660nm in particular is the most researched wavelength in photobiomodulation science, offering peak absorption for Cytochrome C Oxidase. 810–850nm penetrates 40–50mm into tissue — reaching muscle, joints, tendons and through the skull to reach cortical neurons. 1060nm is the only wavelength with documented evidence for direct fat cell metabolism, reaching 4–5cm beneath the skin surface. Using all 9 means every session addresses multiple tissue layers simultaneously — something a single-wavelength device cannot do.

Irradiance (mW/cm²) measures the intensity of light reaching your skin at a given distance. It determines how quickly a therapeutic dose accumulates. LUMNAE panels deliver approximately 160 mW/cm² at 15cm — enough to deliver clinically relevant doses across all 9 wavelengths within a standard 10–20 minute session. Irradiance drops as you increase distance, which is why positioning matters. A device with low irradiance requires much longer sessions to deliver the same dose.

Pulse frequency (Hz) refers to how many times per second the light turns on and off. Your LUMNAE panel supports 0 to 10,000Hz, adjustable independently per wavelength. Continuous wave (0 Hz) is the default and suitable for most applications. Specific pulse frequencies have documented applications: 10Hz for analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, 40Hz (gamma frequency) for cognitive and neuroprotective applications, 15Hz for hair follicle stimulation. For general wellness use, continuous wave is perfectly effective. Always wear your goggles when using pulse — it creates a strobe effect. To disable pulse entirely, set all wavelengths to 0 Hz.

ONE (32×23cm) is ideal for targeted treatment of specific areas — face, neck, shoulder, knee, scalp. It covers roughly one body zone per session. PLUS (92×30cm) covers half the body in one session — perfect for back, full legs, torso or a combination of zones. It is the most popular choice for daily recovery and skin. PRO (184×42cm) covers the full body simultaneously — ideal for maximum efficiency, professional use or those committed to a complete daily protocol. All three panels share the same 9 wavelengths, 7 expert modes and full per-wavelength control.

Results depend on the goal and your consistency. Muscle recovery and pain relief are often felt from the first few sessions. Skin improvements — tone, texture, glow — typically become visible from week 2–4. Collagen rebuilding is a structural process that takes 8–12 weeks of regular use to show measurable improvement. Hair growth requires the most patience — meaningful results are typically visible after 8–16 weeks. The single most important factor is consistency: 3–7 sessions per week without long gaps.

Both work — but they serve different purposes. The LUMNAE Mask was engineered specifically for facial skin: 488 LEDs at contact distance delivering up to 45 mW/cm² with 6 skin-specific modes and FDA 510(k) clearance as a medical device. The panel can be used on the face but is positioned further away and is more powerful at depth. The ideal combination: use the mask for your daily facial ritual, and the panel for body, recovery, cognitive and systemic goals. They complement rather than duplicate each other.

Daily use is safe and effective for most people, though one rest day per week is generally advisable. Photobiomodulation follows a biphasic dose response — the right dose produces benefit, too much in one session can temporarily reduce effect. The solution is not to do longer single sessions but to be consistent over days and weeks. Stick to the recommended session durations per mode (10–20 minutes, never exceeding 20 minutes within any 8-hour period). One session per day per body area is optimal. Two sessions per day on the same area is not recommended.

Always wear the protective goggles provided during panel sessions — this is non-negotiable. Never look directly into the LEDs. While a 2017 systematic review across 43 studies found no link between LED therapy at therapeutic doses and permanent eye damage in healthy users, the goggles are essential for comfort and precaution — particularly because 810–850nm NIR is invisible and does not trigger the blink reflex. Users on photosensitising medications or with pre-existing retinal conditions should consult a physician before use.

Avoid use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding (without medical clearance), have a photosensitive condition (lupus, porphyria), are taking photosensitising medications (certain antibiotics, diuretics, retinoids), or have active cancer in the treatment area — do not use without explicit clearance from your oncologist. People with epilepsy should avoid pulsed modes as pulse creates a strobe effect. If you have hyperthyroidism, avoid prolonged exposure to the neck and upper chest. Do not use on infants, children, sleeping or unconscious persons. The panel emits zero UV — sunburn risk is absent.

Before: expose clean, dry skin free of thick creams, oils or sunscreen — these can block or scatter light. Light moisturiser is fine. After a recovery session: hydrate and allow the body to rest — the cellular repair process continues for hours post-session. After a skin session: apply your serum or moisturiser immediately — light therapy temporarily increases skin permeability, enhancing active ingredient absorption. After a fat loss session: light movement (walking, stretching) in the 30 minutes following amplifies the metabolic effect.

Tattooed skin: red and NIR light is generally safe over healed tattoos. Avoid use on fresh tattoos (under 6 weeks old) as the skin is still healing. Post-procedure: red light therapy is used clinically to accelerate post-procedure recovery — it is one of its best-evidenced applications. Wait 24–48 hours after any procedure involving broken skin, then use the RECOVER or RELIEF mode at 15–20cm distance to support healing. Always follow your practitioner's advice post-procedure.

Power off and unplug before cleaning. Remove all accessories first. Wipe the housing with a soft dry or slightly damp microfibre cloth — never spray directly onto the panel. Do not use alcohol, ammonia or chemical cleaning agents, especially on the LED lens surface. LEDs should be wiped with a dry cloth only. Air dry fully before reconnecting. Keep the ventilation areas on the back clear — the panel needs airflow. Store between 5°C and 50°C, away from direct sunlight. The LED lifespan is 50,000 hours — no bulb replacement is ever needed during the panel's lifetime.

This is completely normal. Approximately half of the LEDs on your LUMNAE panel emit Near-Infrared (NIR) light — wavelengths that are invisible to the human eye. If you run a NIR-only mode, the panel will appear to emit no light at all, even though it is operating at full power. If you use red light or a combined red and NIR mode, you will see bright red light from the visible wavelengths. A simple way to check: hold your phone camera up to the panel — smartphone sensors can detect NIR light and will show it as a faint purple or white glow on screen.

No. Your LUMNAE panel is designed for indoor use only and should never be exposed to the extreme heat or humidity found in a sauna or steam room. The operating temperature range is 5°C to 50°C. High temperatures can damage the LED drivers, reduce lifespan and void your warranty. If you want to combine heat and light therapy, complete your panel session at room temperature first, then enter the sauna separately.

The most likely cause is the timer reaching its set duration (the default is 5 minutes). Simply start a new session with your desired duration set via the touchscreen. Note that you should wait 8 hours between multiple sessions on the same body area. If the panel won't turn on at all, check that the red power switch on the rear panel is in the ON position and that the power cable is fully connected. Do not attempt to repair the panel yourself — contact Lumnae support for any persistent issues.