I’ve been using the Real Mushrooms 5 defenders (powdered, finished one bag, L-ergothioneine (on second bottle) and Tremella (about 1/2 way through one bottle).
Like most supplements, I don’t feel any good or bad effects. No way to know if it is preventing viral infection, cancer, etc. No change in energy, cognition, same mild aches and pains. I’ve ordered 3 dose lots of each above and doubt I’ll continue when finished.
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I use various brands (not brand loyal). Using Organic Tremella Mushroom 60g or 60 caps – Pure Tremella Powder or Cpsules | Anti Aging Supplement for Beauty & Skin | Rich in Antioxidants, 30% + Beta Glucans (60 caps) : Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care at the moment. I’m on so many interventions that I’ve lost the ability to track their contributory effects. About to start OneSkin too 
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I’m taking Real Mushrooms.
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How long did you do this treatment and what concentrations did you use?
I am still a little concerned about this ending up being my backing into TRT therapy, which is a one-way passage.
Yes red/NIR light can be damaging to the eyes, but it all depends on the dose. It’s fine to use without eye protection as long as you get the right dose. The dose necessary for benefits for the eyes is a bit lower than what gives benefits for the skin but that’s why it’s best to either keep your eyes closed or use googles that let only a part of the light through so you get some NIR light into your eyes but not the same strength as you get on your skin. If you do that it works well. Note that most panels come with google specifically to protect the eyes. In fact, a lot of the studies finding benefits of red/NIR light on the eyes don’t use any eye protection at all and some apply it with eyes open.
It’s because the masks are often underpowered while panels are more proven. It’s much easier to be sure you’re getting a correct dose with a panel than a mask.
I have been ruminating on Mesotherapy and noticed these devices.
I have no idea how to get the depth right without help. I think this could work as a starter approach.
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The depth is already pre-set - it’s 1.5 mm. Put needle on a syringe, press vertically at 90 degrees against skin, and it won’t go deeper than 1.5mm. Easy to use for meso applications (injecting HA or cocktails with HA+vitamins, etc.
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There isn’t some exact right amount. The effective dose range is pretty wide. Studies have found benefits from anything between less than 0.5 J/cm2 to 20 J/cm2 directly into the eyes. If you know how powerful your panel is you can calculate roughly how long you have to be exposed to get that. In contrast, with a mask, you have little idea what dose you’re getting. I chose to go by doses used in studies.
That’s the whole point. Because the dose required for the eyes is somewhat lower than that required for the skin, you want to have your eyes closed or use googles to give the eyes a lower dose so you can give an effective dose to both the skin and the eyes at the same time.
They don’t exactly let the minimal amount. If you have ever tried the googles that come with major red/NIR light panel brands you will see that they let a good bit through. What they block is somewhat similar to what your eyelids block, and like I said, there is no exact right amount. The range that is beneficial is pretty wide, so you just have to be close to what is best, not hit some exact dose. And you have to go well above the beneficial range to cause harm. That’s a great thing about red/NIR therapy is that it’s harder than you think to get too much.
If you think it’s so risky you most probably haven’t read the studies. Many of them use light with open eyes, often lasers directed straight into the eyes. Also consider this, a dose that you get with eyes closed is similar to the red/NIR light you can get get by sunbathing looking at the sky with eyes closed for a while. That’s very safe.
Sure but do you know how many J/cm2 you’re getting with the mask on your skin?
I agree if you don’t know what you’re doing. I’ve read tons of anecdotes on people using red/NIR light devicees and I know some people just stare at a panel with open eyes for long without googles, not knowing much what they are doing, but even those people often report benefits. Like I said, it’s harder go overdose than you think with red/NIR light.
Btw, when I use the panel on my face, I use googles and only keep my eyes open maybe half of the duration of exposure, just to err on the side of caution and aim for the lower end of what has been found to be beneficial for the eyes.
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I am glad you feel confident to do this with a needle but I would prefer to use something more structured. I am not confident I can be consistent on the angle for instance. I am not sure it is better just more comfortable for me.
I was replying about nano 5 pin needles you found, not just a regular needle. Nano needles are very thin and easy to use. What is more “structured” than a needle? 
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Sorry! I totally misunderstood! Yes I agree with you on that. Good starter for a clumsy guy like me. Thanks for your views!
Relatively small compared to what? Nobody is saying you should use powerful industrial lasers to shine light into your eyes. The panels are made to give doses that are appropriate for the skin given anything close to a reasonable treatment duration. If you actually read the studies you will see that doses that are beneficial for the eyes (without eyes closed and without protective googles) cover a wide range and so do the doses that are beneficial for the skin, and the dose that is beneficial for the eyes and the skin overlap.
You have to go pretty far beyond that to get permanent damage. Typically the studies show that if you use an appropriate dose you get benefits, while if you use a dose that is too high you don’t get harm but just get no benefits.
If the risk was a concern you would be seeing red light therapy companies being sued left and right by people harmed by the panels, because there is no lack of people that have no idea what they are doing and use them for excessive durations without having their eyes closed or using googles. If you don’t know what you’re doing and are afraid of the unknown, then feel free to stay away. But then you miss out on potential benefits for the eyes.
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What’s the possible damage to the eye? Are we talking like a worsening of prescription strength? Or something else? Loss of color vision? Cataract development?
Personally I’ve used RLT panels for years with no eye protection. My prescription (near 20/20 after lasik ~10 years ago) remains unchanged and eye health is great according to the doctor.
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Every single piece of literature on red light therapy advises eye protection and extreme caution in this area. I will stick with that over the experiences of a couple of people.
All I have seen on this discussion is rank speculation devoid of comprehensive study and assertions that can be explained by other factors.
I guess I am going to be forced to mute you. Just keep talking and I will find something else to do with myself.
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I tend to avoid looking directty at the panels (which I have stopped using for a bit anyway - in an attempt to separate out any effect which comes from the panels). However, my memory of my reading of the literature indicates that a lower intensity can be useful.
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Yikes, I’m sorry my questions offended you. I hope you realize this was my first reply to this discussion.
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One thing companies will do when selling things, is to cover their bases with respect to liability. Like - don’t use your toaster when you are in the bath…
And then there is this…
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/red-light-protect-aging-eyes-rlt-pbm-near-infrared
https://karger.com/ore/article/66/1/664/833133/A-Study-on-the-Effectiveness-of-650-nm-Red-Light
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Eshel didn’t say that niacinamide doesn’t work. He said that topical NR or NMN have an advantage over topical niacinamide.
There is much more research on niacimimide in skin care that has been done over the past decade +. I’m don’t believe there is much on NR or NMN, so I think its too early to say if there are overall advantages to them.