Could this £350 belt top men needing the loo so often?

Light – red, infrared, blue and green – is integrated into a range of devices and is said to relieve everything from itchy skin to stiff muscles and even reduce the number of times men have to go to the toilet. ADRIAN MONTI asked experts to rate a selection; We then evaluated them.

SKIN CONDITIONS

DermaHealer Handheld UVB Light Therapy Lamp, £325, dermahealer.co.uk

CLAIM: A handheld device — about the size of a showerhead — is designed to treat psoriasis, vitiligo and eczema using ultraviolet light.

The light is guided over the affected area for about four minutes at a time.

The manufacturer claims that this “improves the appearance of skin in three to eight weeks.”

EXPERT VERDICT: “I use UVB light treatment on patients with skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and vitiligo,” says Dr. Natalia Spierings, a consultant dermatologist based in London. ‘

UV light is believed to help by reducing inflammation. “But in clinical settings we use much larger devices – I’m not sure how effective a small, handheld device like this would be.”

But for small areas of psoriasis, for example, it’s worth a try.”

EVALUATION: 6/10

fungal nails

Tens Care Nailit Nail Cleaning Laser Machine, £84.60, healthandcare.co.uk

CLAIM: This device uses infrared and blue light to treat fungal nail infections. They are placed over the nail for seven minutes. The manufacturer says that with daily use there will be “visible improvements within weeks.”

EXPERT VERDICT: Hampshire-based podiatrist Dr. Ivan Bristow says: “Fungal infections are notoriously difficult to treat and there is a high risk of reinfection as fungi can remain under the nail.”

The usual treatment is antifungal tablets or agents that you apply to the nail and hope they penetrate deep enough into the nail to reach the infection.

“There is little evidence that light therapy can clear an infection, especially a device like this that has very low power.”

EVALUATION: 0/10

HAIR LOSS

Ultima 9 Laser Comb, £199.95, hairmax.co.uk

CLAIM: It looks like a hairbrush but has nine “medical-grade lasers” that are “clinically proven” to reverse hair loss and restore hair growth, according to the manufacturer.

You brush your hair for 11 minutes three days a week.

EXPERT VERDICT: “Low-level lasers using this device have shown encouraging results in combating hair loss in clinical trials,” says Fabian Martinez, trichologist at the London Hair Clinic.

“Laser energy improves blood flow to hair follicles, creating an environment that promotes hair growth.”

“Most studies of this laser therapy show it works for some, but usually with a laser cap that covers the entire head – so I would recommend this instead.”

EVALUATION: 5/10

MUSCLE ACHES

Sanitas SIL06 Infrared Heat Lamp, £22.99, amazon.co.uk

CLAIM: This looks like a small desk lamp, and the infrared light “penetrates deep into the skin, reaching muscles and joints,” according to the manufacturer, “improving blood circulation, providing oxygen and nutrients that promote healing.”

Expert opinion: “Infrared lamps are rarely used in physiotherapy because there is no clear evidence that they are effective for muscle tension and soreness,” says Lucy Macdonald, physiotherapist at the Octopus Clinic in London.

“The heat warms the skin, which only increases blood flow beneath the surface, so there is no permanent change to the muscles or underlying causes of pain.” 0/10

FREQUENT URINATION

KTS Prostate Therapy Device, £349.99, amazon.co.uk

CLAIM: This device is worn like a belt with plastic sections that direct red or blue light to the wearer’s stomach, lower back, and perineum. It is intended to help men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), in which the prostate gland pushes against the bladder.

The manufacturer claims that the light targets specific points, which “has a positive effect on treating urinary frequency and urgency.”

The wearer decides which light they want to use; Blue light for five minutes and red light for 30 minutes are recommended.

EXPERT VERDICT: “The idea that you can choose which color light you want to use is bizarre and not based on medical evidence,” says Gordon Muir, consultant urologist at King’s College Hospital in London.

“Neither the red nor blue light would penetrate deep enough into the tissue to reach the prostate, so the theory behind it is flawed.”

“BPH is treated with lifestyle changes, medications to make urination easier, or sometimes surgery.” “This device is a waste of money.”

EVALUATION: 0/10

migraine

iKeener Green Light Therapy Lamp, £79.99, amazon.co.uk

CLAIM: The manufacturer claims that the green light “relieves photophobia (sensitivity to light) and relieves migraines.”

Use for 30 minutes with other lights turned off.

EXPERT VERDICT: Peter Goadsby, professor of neurology at King’s College London, said: “The thinking behind this device is based on two recent studies.”

The first study, published in the journal Brain in 2016, showed that about 20 percent of migraine sufferers reported a reduction in pain when exposed to green light.

“A follow-up study in 2021 of 29 migraine sufferers showed that green light reduced the number of their headache days.”

“It’s an area that could use some more systematic studies to prove whether green light is effective or not.”

EVALUATION 4/10