590 nm
Amber — surface
Absorbed within the epidermis. Used for complexion and skin comfort, not to reach a muscle.
Home Learn Wavelengths
From 460 to 940 nm
A nanometre is not a shade of colour.
It decides how deep the light reaches and which molecule absorbs it. Here are the seven spectra in the range, what each one does, and which device carries it.
590–940
nm, the span of spectra present across the range
7
independently controlled channels on DESK, one per wavelength
2–3
wavelengths per device other than DESK, chosen for one area
0 UV
no wavelength below 400 nm in any device
In short
Wavelength decides two things, and only two: how deep the light travels into tissue, and which molecule absorbs it. That is why a surface device and a joint device do not carry the same nanometres — and why stacking seven of them only makes sense if you can switch them on separately.
- 590 nm (amber) is absorbed within the epidermis. 630 nm (red) reaches the upper dermis. These are the surface spectra: they are not there to reach a muscle.
- 660 nm goes into the dermis; 810 and 850 nm go further still — subcutaneous tissue, muscle, joint. Near-infrared is what carries the recovery uses.
- Past 940 nm, water takes over: depth stops increasing with wavelength. The curve is not a straight line.
- Depths are relative orders of magnitude, never millimetres. They depend on tissue, pigmentation and irradiance, and energy falls off exponentially. Any brand quoting “10 cm” is making it up.
- The number of spectra is not a score. Two wavelengths well chosen for one area beat seven stacked for no reason. Seven channels are only useful if they switch on separately, which is the case on DESK.
- No device in the range emits below 400 nm: there is no ultraviolet, so no tanning and no UV-related photocarcinogenic risk.
Page reviewed on 09/09/2026. The figures for duration, frequency and distance are authoritative on how it works. Antared devices are wellness products: they do not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
The wavelengths
Seven spectra, seven different jobs.
A nanometre is not a shade of colour: it decides how deep the light reaches and which molecule absorbs it. A single-wavelength device does a single thing.
630 nm
Red — skin
Epidermis and upper dermis. This is the red channel of the Antared mask, the one collagen trials document.
660 nm
Red — dermis
The most studied red wavelength in the field. Present on the Antared knee wrap alongside 850 nm.
810 nm
Near-infrared — invisible
Invisible to the eye: an 810 nm LED can be on without looking like it. This is the spectrum most used in deep-tissue research.
830 nm
Near-infrared — tissue
Documented for wound healing and tissue response. Usually paired with red rather than used alone.
850 nm
Near-infrared — depth
The most common near-infrared on consumer devices. Present on the Antared mask, knee wrap and panels.
940 nm
Edge of the window
Past 950 nm, tissue water absorbs more and more: going further into the infrared does not mean going deeper.
Relative depth
The longer the wavelength, the deeper the light goes.
These bars are orders of magnitude, proportional to each other. Nobody can give you a depth to the millimetre: it depends on tissue, pigmentation and irradiance, and energy falls off exponentially.
590 nm Epidermis
630 nm Upper dermis
660 nm Dermis
810 nm Subcutaneous, muscle
850 nm Muscle, joint
940 nm Rising water absorption
On which device
Each spectrum, and where it sits in the range.
Most devices combine two or three wavelengths chosen for one specific use, rather than a single one pushed to maximum. DESK is the exception: its seven channels are independently controlled.
The research behind these spectra460 nm Blue
Everyday skin routines — Antared Mask
590 nm Amber
Antared DESK
630 nm Red
Antared Mask, DESK
660 nm Deep red
Antared Cap, Sauna Dome, DESK
810–850 nm Near-infrared
Nearly every device in the range
940 nm Deep infrared
Antared DESK
The number of spectra is not a score. A device with two wavelengths well chosen for one area beats one stacking seven for no reason — see how it works on the question of dose.
What this page does not say
- An area reached is not an indication. Saying that at 850 nm light reaches the muscle plane describes an optical path, not a promised effect on a pain or a condition.
- No depth in millimetres is given here, and none should be given anywhere else. The bars on this page are proportional to each other, pinned to no absolute scale.
- Nanometres are not enough. At equal wavelength, two devices differ in irradiance, lit area and working distance — it is the dose that decides, not the colour.
- Antared devices are wellness products. They do not diagnose, treat or cure any disease. If you have symptoms, an ongoing treatment or are pregnant, a healthcare professional's advice takes precedence.
The questions that keep coming up
Seven questions about nanometres.
Which wavelength should I choose for skin?
The surface spectra: 590 nm, absorbed within the epidermis, and 630 nm, which reaches the upper dermis. 660 nm goes one step deeper. Beyond that, in the near-infrared, light crosses the skin without leaving most of its energy there: those wavelengths serve other areas.
What is the difference between 660 nm and 850 nm?
The depth reached, and the molecule that absorbs. 660 nm is a visible red working in the dermis; 850 nm is an invisible near-infrared reaching the subcutaneous, muscle and joint plane. Most worn devices combine the two to cover both the surface and the depth of one area.
Do I need a device with seven wavelengths?
Only if the channels switch on separately, which is the case on DESK. Seven spectra lit at once do not work seven times better: they share the same dose. Two wavelengths well chosen for the area you are targeting are enough, and that is the principle behind the worn devices in the range.
How deep does the light actually go?
Nobody can answer in millimetres, and a brand that does is making it up. Penetration depends on tissue, pigmentation and irradiance, and energy falls off exponentially with depth. The bars on this page are orders of magnitude proportional to each other, not an absolute scale.
Why are some wavelengths invisible?
Because the human eye sees nothing beyond roughly 700 nm. A device at 810 or 850 nm runs while appearing to be off, or shows only a faint stray red glow. This is also why the blink reflex offers no protection at those wavelengths: do not look into the LEDs.
Is there any ultraviolet in these devices?
No. The shortest spectrum in the range is a 460 nm blue, and ultraviolet stops at 400 nm. No Antared device emits below 400 nm: there is no tanning and no UV-related photocarcinogenic risk.
What is 460 nm blue for?
It stays at the surface, on the epidermis, and it is used in the everyday skin routines of the mask. It does not penetrate and plays no part in recovery uses, which rely on deep red and near-infrared. It is not a depth wavelength.
For duration, frequency and distance, see how it works. For what the trials actually measured, domain by domain, see the benefits page. To apply all of it to a specific moment of your week, the protocols give seven sessions with numbers.
Put it into practice
The right wavelength is the one that reaches your area.
A face does not need the same nanometres as a quadriceps. Every product page states the exact wavelengths, the irradiance and the working distance — enough to compare without taking our word for it.
Personal · Desktop
Antared DESK
Compact 7-spectrum panel, red through near-infrared, for a daily session that sits on your desk.
€299,00 DiscoverFace · Cordless
Antared Mask
Flexible silicone mask, 288 LEDs across 4 channels including 630 nm red and 850 nm near-infrared.
€250,00 DiscoverScalp · Hands-free
Antared REDLIGHT CAP
Cap with 150 3-in-1 LEDs, for the scalp routine that is easiest to keep up over months.
€330,00 DiscoverAcross the Antared range, different wavelengths are used for different depths and purposes. Here is what each one is used for.
- 460nm (Blue) — used in everyday skin routines, found in Antared Mask
- 590nm (Amber) — associated with mitochondrial activation and cognitive function, found in Antared DESK
- 630nm (Red) — a surface-level wavelength associated with radiance and texture, found in Mask and DESK
- 660nm (Deep Red) — used in surface-level photobiomodulation routines, found across Knee, Foot, cap, Sauna Dome, and DESK
- 810–850nm (Near Infrared) — penetrates deeper into muscle and joint tissue, found across nearly every Antared device
- 940nm (Deep Infrared) — the deepest-penetrating wavelength in the range, found in Antared DESK
Most Antared devices combine 2–3 wavelengths chosen for their specific use case, rather than a single wavelength at maximum power. DESK is the exception, offering all 7 as independently controllable channels.