Why am I writing about soft laser scams?
Every week I receive a letter from someone who tells me they paid several hundred thousand forints for a “professional, 15-diode therapeutic laser”, used it on their knee for months, and nothing happened. Then I look at the device and it turns out to be a 50-60 dollar LED lamp or “shower laser” that can also be ordered from a Chinese online shop, with actual therapeutic output only a fraction of what was advertised. The money is gone — but the greater harm is that the person concludes: “laser therapy is useless”.
Yet soft laser therapy is an effective, research-supported method — when used with the right device and the right dosage. I wrote this article so that you can recognise the two most common scams before buying.
Key idea
Laser therapy itself is not the scam — it is the sales method used by certain companies. Typically, they sell a poor-quality, very low-output device or an LED lamp as a “professional laser device”. The most common trick is the “shower laser”, advertised using the combined output of many weak diodes. The other is selling a simple LED lamp as a diode laser.
The language of laser therapy — what marketing does not tell you
The effect of laser therapy is not determined by the device's output (milliwatts), but by how much energy reaches the treated tissue — we measure this in Joules, and therapeutic recommendations specify Joules per square centimetre (J/cm²). The energy is made up of three things: output × time, divided by the area of the light spot. According to the recommendations of the World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT), superficial problems (wounds, scars, skin) require 4-6 J per point, while deeper tissue problems (joints, tendons) require 8-12 J or more. 4 A device is therefore only “therapeutic” if it can deliver this dose to one point within a reasonable time.
LEDs and laser diodes are physically different. Laser light travels in a single, precisely defined wavelength (with a 1-2 nm variation), in an organised (coherent), parallel beam. This gives it a high power density and allows it to penetrate 2-4 cm into tissue. LED light spreads across a 20-30 nm band, is divergent and weak (typically 1-5 mW), and does not penetrate deeper than 1-2 cm. LEDs are not useless — they have a place in superficial skin applications — but they are unsuitable for treating the knee, hip, spine or tendon. The scam begins when an LED lamp is sold with the label “laser” and at a laser price.
There is one fact that explains why neither an overly weak nor an overly strong device works: the effect of light therapy follows a bell curve. Research shows that too little energy does not trigger a cellular response, the effect appears within the optimal window, while too large a dose inhibits the response. 1 This is why laser therapy cannot be administered on a “more is better” basis, and why you need to know exactly how much your device delivers: without knowing the dose, you are only guessing — typically below the window, in the no-effect zone.
Scam 1: an LED lamp sold as a “laser”
This is the most common trap. The advertisement says “laser”, the box says “laser therapy”, the price tag says hundreds of thousands — but inside the device are LEDs producing just a few milliwatts. Here is how to spot it:
| Feature | LED lamp | Diode laser |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Divergent, spreads across a 20-30 nm band | Parallel, a single precise wavelength (e.g. 808 nm) |
| Output per diode | 1-5 mW | 200-500 mW (home use), several thousand mW (clinic use) |
| Penetration | 1-2 cm — skin surface | 2-4 cm — joints, tendons, muscles |
| Delivering 20 Joules to one point | With 5 mW: approx. 66 minutes | With 500 mW: 40 seconds |
| What is it suitable for? | Acceptable for superficial applications (wounds, skin) | Deep-tissue pain, joints, tendons, inflammation |
The revealing question is: “What is the output of a single diode in milliwatts, and what is its wavelength in nanometres?” If the answer is below 50 mW, or is a range (“600-700 nm”), or there is no answer at all — you are probably dealing with an LED, whatever the box may say.
Scam 2: the “shower laser” and the total-output trick
This is the more sophisticated trap, because the device really does contain laser diodes — just not as many as advertised. A typical “shower laser” head may contain 12 red diodes (660 nm) rated at 5 mW each and 3 infrared diodes (808 nm) rated at 150 mW each. The marketing adds them together: 12×5 + 3×150 = 510 mW — “a professional laser with more than half a watt of output!”. The problem is that the diodes do not shine onto the same point: each tissue point receives light from only one diode. Let us do the maths:
| Diode | Energy in 1 minute | Time for 4 J (superficial dose) | Time for 8 J (deep-tissue dose) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mW (one of the “12 red diodes”) | 0.3 J | approx. 13-14 minutes per point | approx. 27 minutes per point |
| 150 mW (one of the “3 infrared” diodes) | 9 J | approx. 30 seconds | approx. 1 minute |
| 400 mW single-diode medical laser | 24 J | 10 seconds | 20 seconds |
The lesson is this: most of the shower laser's therapeutic work is done by the three 150 mW diodes — the twelve red, LED-like diodes are practically decoration. The “510 mW” is actually three 150 mW points, with an unknown spot size and dose. For the same money, a 400-500 mW single-diode medical laser with a known spot size delivers the dose three times faster and in a predictable way.
The price-value trap: from 50 dollars to 300,000 forints
The formula is always the same: a 50-60 dollar Chinese device → a new name, a new logo, a “professional” website → “now only 449,000 Ft on special offer”. The same device appears under different names in several online shops. The buyer pays, becomes disappointed — and blames not the retailer, but laser therapy. This is the real harm: because of a fake device, someone permanently dismisses a method that can work.
Before buying: the 6-question checklist
Ask these questions about any device from any distributor — the answers (or lack of them) reveal everything:
| Question | Good answer | Suspicious answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Is it a medical device? (CE/MDR) | A certificate for the specific model, provided on request | “It has a CE mark” (which may also refer to electrical safety) — ask for medical-device certification |
| 2. How many diodes, and how many mW each? | An exact figure: e.g. 1 diode, 400 mW | Only “total output” or “peak value” |
| 3. What is the wavelength? | One precise value: e.g. 808 nm | A range (“600-900 nm”), or red and infrared mixed without stating the ratio |
| 4. What is the spot size, and how many J/cm²? | Known spot size, predictable dose, treatment table | “Just point it at the area” — no dose given |
| 5. Who is the manufacturer, and where is the service centre? | A named European manufacturer, local service support, warranty | Anonymous manufacturer, “importer”, the device is also familiar under another name |
| 6. What is it recommended for? | Protocols for each indication, realistic expectations | “For every disease”, an implausibly broad list of promises |
Quick decision guide: which device do you need?
For superficial complaints — skin, wounds, scars, herpes, small joints (fingers, wrist) — a Class 1 pulsed device is sufficient. It does not require protective eyewear and can be used anywhere. For deep-tissue complaints — knee, hip, shoulder, spine, Achilles tendon — you need a Class 3B, 400-500 mW, 808 nm single-diode device with a known dose. If you are unsure, ask for the protocol suited to your complaint BEFORE buying: if the distributor cannot provide a treatment table, that is an answer in itself.
Devices that meet the checklist
All of the devices below are CE-certified medical devices, with a single laser diode of known output, a precise wavelength and protocols for each indication. You do not need to choose the most powerful one — the depth of your complaint is what matters.
B-Cure Laser Classic
A Class 1, pulsed, 808 nm Israeli device: safe to use without protective eyewear, with a large (4.5 cm²) treatment surface — for superficial and moderately deep complaints, skin, wounds and small joints. The stronger B-Cure Laser SPORT Pro version is suitable for athletes.
Personal Laser L400
A Class 3B, continuous-operation, 400 mW, 808 nm single-diode laser — delivering 8 Joules per point in 20 seconds. For deep-tissue complaints (knee, shoulder, hip, spine, tendons), it is the basic home device, with an audible timer and a treatment table for each indication.
Energy-Laser L500 Pro
A 500 mW, 808 nm, Class 3B device with a Bluetooth app: your phone guides you through the protocols. Suitable for regular treatment of larger body areas or several joints, or when several members of the family will use it. More devices: Soft laser devices category →
Before using a laser
A genuine therapeutic laser is an effective tool — which is why there are situations in which it must not be used, or may only be used with medical approval:
- Eyes – never direct the light from a Class 3B laser into the eyes; using the supplied protective eyewear is mandatory.
- Cancer in the treated area – laser treatment should be avoided.
- Pregnancy – prohibited over the abdomen and lower back; elsewhere only after consulting a doctor.
- Photosensitising medicines and photosensitive conditions – medical consultation is required in the case of certain antibiotics, dermatological medicines or epilepsy.
Important information
You can find the complete list of contraindications in a separate article: Contraindications to soft laser therapy → For information about how laser therapy works, its indications and protocols, see the comprehensive guide: Soft laser therapy — comprehensive guide →
What does the research say?
“Does the dose really matter that much? Isn't it enough for the device simply to give off light?”
No, it is not enough. One of the most important research findings in light therapy is that the effect follows a bell curve: below a certain energy dose, cells do not respond; a beneficial response appears within the optimal range; and overdosing has an inhibitory effect. 1 Reviews of studies on tendinitis showed the same thing in practice: the studies that used the recommended dose window produced good results, while the others did not. 2 In other words, a device whose dose you do not know is not “weaker therapy” — in all likelihood, it is not therapy at all.
“So is LED completely useless?”
I need to be honest here, even if it goes against my own argument. In a carefully designed study, athletes' thigh muscles were treated once before exercise with a single 200 mW laser diode and, on another occasion, with a cluster head made up of several LEDs and laser diodes — and the cluster head reduced the blood marker of muscle damage more effectively. 3 LED-based light therapy is therefore not worthless: it has value for large-area, superficial applications (skin, sports recovery). The scam is not that an LED “does not work” — it is that a 5 mW LED lamp is sold as a 500 mW laser, at a laser price, with deep-tissue claims. An honest LED device calls itself an LED device and is priced accordingly.
“How much is enough? Is there an official recommendation?”
Yes. WALT's dosing table for wavelengths of 780-860 nm specifies the Joule values to be delivered per point for each indication: 2-4 J for small joints and tendons, and 4-8 J or more per point for larger joints and deep structures, treating multiple points. 4 This is the list against which you can compare a device's parameters: if the recommended dose can be delivered within a realistic time based on the output per diode and spot size, it is a therapeutic device. If it cannot be calculated, it is not.
Frequently asked questions
Not necessarily — but you need to know what you have. If it contains 100-150 mW infrared diodes, those points may be used therapeutically: find out which opening emits the light (infrared, so invisible) and hold it over each painful point for 1-2 minutes. Do not rely on the red 5 mW diodes. If the device contains only LEDs, use it for superficial skin applications — it is not suitable for deep-tissue treatment.
Laser classification concerns eye safety, not therapeutic value. Class 1 (e.g. B-Cure) devices are pulsed, have a low average output and are safe without protective eyewear. Class 3B (200-500 mW, e.g. L400, L500 Pro) is the classic home therapeutic laser, used with protective eyewear. Class 4 (above 500 mW, e.g. PhysioLaser) is a clinic device for healthcare professionals. The class tells you how careful you need to be — the dose tells you whether it is therapeutic.
No — shower lasers exploit precisely this belief. Price is not a parameter. What matters is output per diode, a precise wavelength, a known spot size, medical-device certification, protocols and service. A 400 mW single-diode device may cost less than a “510 mW” shower laser — yet its therapeutic effect may be many times stronger.
Because 808 nm light is invisible to the human eye — most therapeutic lasers show, at most, a faint deep-red glow. This is not a fault; it is actually a condition for deep-tissue action. The bright red light of shower lasers comes from the weak 660 nm diodes — they are the most visible but deliver the least.
Ask for the Declaration of Conformity for the specific model. It should state the medical-device directive/regulation (MDD 93/42 or MDR 2017/745) and the number of the notified body. A standalone “CE” mark may also refer to electrical safety — it is not medical-device certification. If the distributor cannot provide it, do not buy the device.
Summary – Quick overview
Sources
- Huang YY, Chen AC, Carroll JD, Hamblin MR. (2009). Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy. Dose-Response. PubMed: 20011653
- Tumilty S, Munn J, McDonough S, et al. (2010). Low level laser treatment of tendinopathy: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. PubMed: 19708800
- Leal Junior EC, Lopes-Martins RA, Baroni BM, et al. (2009). Comparison between single-diode low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and LED multi-diode (cluster) therapy (LEDT) applications before high-intensity exercise. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. PubMed: 19302015
- World Association for Photobiomodulation Therapy (WALT). (2010). Recommended treatment doses for low level laser therapy, 780-860 nm. waltpbm.org
