Full-Body Red Light Therapy at Very Well

You've probably seen the small red-light face masks on social media. Maybe you've walked past a panel at the gym or seen a handheld wand on Amazon. What we offer at Very Well is not that.

Our full-body Red Light Therapy bed was engineered specifically based on the latest clinical studies in efficacy, irradiance levels, diode positioning, and session timing. It delivers five of the most evidence-backed wavelengths in photobiomodulation — 630, 660, 810, 850, and 980 nanometers — simultaneously across your entire body. In 16 minutes, without repositioning, every layer of you receives therapeutic light: from the surface of your skin down through your muscles, joints, and organs.

That combination of wavelengths, bed design, and session length isn't accidental. It's why Dr. David Meredith — founder of Very Well and Baltimore Magazine's featured expert on red light therapy — chose this particular technology when building out Baltimore's most comprehensive integrative wellness practice.

And it's why our sessions accomplish, in under 16 minutes, what takes other providers more than twice as long.

Red light therapy wasn't invented in a wellness spa. It was discovered by accident.

In 1967, Hungarian physician Endre Mester noticed that red light exposure promoted wound healing and hair regrowth in rats at Semmelweis Medical University in Budapest. Decades later, NASA picked up the thread — funding experiments between 1995 and 2003 on the medical uses of LEDs. Near-infrared light was shown to speed healing of oxygen-starved wounds, boost growth factor proteins and collagen, and — notably — a NASA scientist noticed his own skin lesions healing faster during the experiments. The agency began studying LEDs to counteract bone and muscle loss in astronauts.

That's the lineage of what happens in our therapy bed today.

Red light therapy — now formally called photobiomodulation (PBM) — works by delivering specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light into your body's tissues. Those wavelengths are absorbed by mitochondria, the energy-producing centers in every cell, triggering measurable biological responses: increased ATP production, reduced oxidative stress, improved cell signaling, and accelerated tissue repair. Research published in PubMed confirms that photobiomodulation enhances mitochondrial ATP production, cell signaling, and growth factor synthesis, and attenuates oxidative stress.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33471046/

An international expert panel's 2024 evidence-based consensus confirmed PBM is safe for adult patients and does not induce DNA damage.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40253006/

At Very Well, we've taken that science seriously — selecting a bed whose wavelength range, irradiance levels, and diode positioning reflect the current state of clinical research, not marketing trends.

How our Bed is Different

There are red light therapy providers in Baltimore. Here's what separates Very Well's bed from the rest.

Most providers use beds with 2–3 wavelengths — typically just 660nm and 850nm. Our bed delivers five wavelengths: 630, 660, 810, 850, and 980nm — a range that spans the full capabilities of evidence-based photobiomodulation, from surface skin treatment to deep organ-level penetration. The 980nm wavelength in particular — less common in commercial beds — offers the deepest near-infrared penetration available, reaching tissues that shorter wavelengths simply cannot access.

Our bed was also developed with specific attention to irradiance levels (the actual energy delivered per square centimeter — the number that really determines whether treatment is therapeutic or merely cosmetic) and diode positioning (ensuring even, comprehensive coverage without dead zones). The result:

What other providers take 30–45 minutes to deliver, our bed accomplishes in 16.

• Five wavelengths (630, 660, 810, 850, 980nm) — surface skin to deepest tissue penetration

• No repositioning required — full-body coverage from all directions simultaneously

• 16-minute sessions — faster than any comparable multi-wavelength provider in Baltimore

• Optimized irradiance — engineered for therapeutic dose, not just visible light

• Fully sanitized between every use

• Bring your earbuds — 16 minutes goes by faster than you think

The shorter wavelengths (630 and 660nm) work at the skin's surface — stimulating collagen, calming inflammation, and accelerating healing. The mid-range wavelengths (810 and 850nm) reach into muscles, joints, and connective tissue. The 980nm wavelength penetrates deepest of all — supporting systemic circulation, organ health, and the kind of deep cellular repair that most red light beds never reach.

Conditions and Benefits

Dr. David Meredith of Very Well — featured in Baltimore Magazine — has noted that the FDA has cleared red light therapy for pain relief, inflammation, and wound healing. Regular sessions may support:

Pain & Physical Recovery

Chronic pain • Arthritis • Joint inflammation • Muscle soreness • Tendinitis • Carpal tunnel • Post-workout recovery • Injury healing • Back and neck pain

Skin & Appearance

Collagen production • Skin firmness • Fine lines and wrinkles • Skin tone and texture • Acne reduction • Wound and scar healing

Energy, Sleep & Mood

Cellular ATP production • Sleep quality • Circadian rhythm regulation • Reduced fatigue • Mood support via serotonin & melatonin • Reduced anxiety and oxidative stress in the brain

Immune & Systemic Health

Immune system support • Reduced systemic inflammation • Improved circulation • Asthma and respiratory support • Hypertension support

What to Expect from a Session

A red light session at Very Well is one of the most effortless things you can do for your body. Lie comfortably on our full-body therapy bed — red and near-infrared LEDs, not UV. No prep. No repositioning. 16 minutes, then done.