What Are LifeWave Phototherapy Patches and How Do They Work?

Maybe you noticed a small round patch on the back of a friend’s neck, or saw one pop up on your social feed, and wondered what it was. There is a good chance it was a LifeWave X39 phototherapy patch. At Prodigo Day Spa & Salon, we are a LifeWave distributor right here on Main Street in Harleysville, and “what are those patches?” is one of the questions we hear most.

So let’s talk about it, in plain language. Below we cover what LifeWave patches are, what is inside them, how LifeWave says they work, what the research actually shows, and how to wear one if you decide to give them a try.

What Are LifeWave Phototherapy Patches?

LifeWave phototherapy patches are small adhesive patches, about the size of a quarter, that you wear directly on your skin. They are made by LifeWave, Inc., a wellness company founded in 2004 by inventor David Schmidt and based in San Diego, California.

What makes them different from most patches is that they are non-transdermal. A nicotine patch or a medicated pain patch works by sending an ingredient through your skin and into your bloodstream. LifeWave patches do not work that way. Nothing crosses into the skin. There is no drug, no stimulant, and no chemical exchange of any kind.

The best known patch in the line is the X39.

What Is Inside a LifeWave Patch?

If you look closely at an X39 patch, you can see a thin piece of fabric inside. That fabric is embedded with organic salt crystals.

Each patch is single use. You stick it on clean, dry skin, wear it for the day (roughly 8 hours), and then throw it away. A pack of 30 - X39 patches covers about a month of daily wear.

How Do LifeWave Patches Work?

It starts with phototherapy

Phototherapy simply means using light to influence the body. The idea has been around for a long time. Niels Finsen received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1903 for his work using concentrated light to treat a skin disease, and scientists have been studying the effects of light on the body ever since. The modern term you will often hear is photobiomodulation. You have probably seen this science in action already. Our red light therapy sessions, for example, use an outside light source to shine specific wavelengths of light onto your skin.

With a patch, your body is the light source

Here is where LifeWave patches are different. There are no bulbs, no batteries, and nothing to plug in. The patch uses you.

Your body is always giving off heat, and part of that heat is infrared energy. According to LifeWave, the crystals inside the patch are activated by your body heat and reflect specific wavelengths of light back toward the skin. The patches are placed on specific points on the body, many of them the same points used in acupuncture.

The copper peptide connection

LifeWave says the X39 is designed to raise levels of GHK-Cu, a copper peptide your body already makes on its own. GHK-Cu is made of three amino acids (glycine, histidine, and lysine) bound to copper. It has been studied since the 1970s for its role in skin and tissue repair, which is why you see copper peptides in so many skincare products. Research also shows that GHK levels in the blood naturally drop as we get older.

LifeWave links higher GHK-Cu levels to what it calls stem cell activation. To be clear, the patches do not contain stem cells, and nothing is put into your body. The idea LifeWave promotes is that the patch supports processes your body already runs on its own.

How to Wear an X39 Patch

Using a patch is simple. Here is what LifeWave’s own placement guide recommends for the X39:

• Apply one patch to clean, dry skin, usually in the morning.

• Common placements are the back of the neck at the base of the hairline, or about two finger widths below the belly button.

• Wear it for up to 12 hours, then remove it and throw it away. Patches are not reusable.

• Drink plenty of water while you are wearing it.

When you order through us, we go over placement with you during your consult so you are not left guessing from the instructions on the box.

Are LifeWave Patches Safe? Who Should Skip Them?

Because nothing is absorbed into the skin, the most common issue people run into is irritation from the adhesive. LifeWave’s own cautions say to:

• Remove the patch right away if you feel discomfort or notice skin irritation.

• Never place a patch on a wound or damaged skin.

• Avoid using the patches if you are pregnant or nursing.

• Talk to your healthcare provider first if you have a health condition or any questions about your health.

LifeWave Patches in Harleysville, PA

If you are curious about phototherapy patches, the easiest way to start is with a conversation. Prodigo Day Spa & Salon offers free consults for LifeWave X39 phototherapy patches in Harleysville, PA. You can meet with us in person at 439 Main Street, talk by phone, or hop on a Zoom call, whatever is easiest for you. We will ask about your routine and your goals, walk you through how the patches are worn, and help you figure out whether a patch, or a combination of patches, makes sense for you.

Plenty of our clients pick up an order while they are already in for a facial, massage, or red light session. We also work with folks from Lansdale, Souderton, Telford, Skippack, Franconia, Hatfield, and Kulpsville.

Ready to learn more? Schedule your free patch consult here!