Red light therapy is a popular and effective treatment method for improving skin health and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

However, numerous studies have shown that when combined with frequencies adjacent to the red light spectrum (i.e., near-infrared light), red light therapy is also incredibly effective for lowering inflammation, reducing joint pain, improving blood flow and speeding up muscle recovery after injuries or intense workouts.

Over the past few years, I’ve been using various red light therapy devices to leverage many of these benefits. In this article, I’ll share my top picks based on the technology included in each device, the scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness, and my own hands-on experience.

• Click here if you are looking for a LED light therapy face mask

One thing to keep in mind before diving into the details below is that proper light dosage is critical for achieving the desired health benefits. Unfortunately, the red light therapy market is swamped with cheap, ineffective devices that don’t produce sufficient amounts and/or intensities of light. As a result, these devices are unlikely to give you the results you’re looking for.

Our editors spent three weeks testing the most popular red light therapy wands and evaluating them based on effectiveness, design, ease of use, comfort, safety and price value.

Here are the top 5 picks of this year –