Red Light Therapy · Safety
Can Red Light Therapy Cause Cancer?
Current evidence says no: red light therapy contains no UV and is not an established cancer risk. Below is why, plus the questions we hear most in the clinic about melanoma, a cancer history, and at-home LED masks.
Medically reviewed by Dr. John Chevigny, DC, CCSP, CSCS, Chiropractor & Clinic Director
Published |Last reviewed
The Short Answer
No established link. Red light therapy uses red (about 660nm) and near-infrared (about 850nm) light, which contain no ultraviolet radiation and are non-ionizing. UV is the light linked to skin cancer, and the American Academy of Dermatology notes that research has not found red light to cause any type of cancer. If you have active cancer or a history of skin cancer, ask your oncologist or dermatologist before you start.
Why the Answer Comes Down to UV
UV carries enough energy per photon to damage the DNA in skin cells. Over years, that damage adds up, and that is how sun exposure and tanning beds raise the risk of skin cancer, including melanoma. Red and near-infrared light sit at the other end of the spectrum, carry less energy, and contain no UV at all.
So the mechanism that makes a tanning bed risky is simply not present in a red light therapy device. Photobiomodulation, the formal name for red light therapy, has been studied for decades without establishing the kind of cancer risk that UV carries.
Honest caveat: "no established link" is not the same as "impossible." Long-term research on years of frequent use is still limited. That is why we tell anyone with a cancer history to check with their own doctor first, and why the full picture of whether red light therapy is safe for you depends on your health history, not just the physics.
The Root of the Fear
Why People Worry About Red Light Therapy and Cancer
Mostly because a red light bed looks like a tanning bed. You lie inside a glowing enclosure, and decades of public health messaging have correctly taught us that tanning beds raise skin cancer risk. "Glowing bed, therefore cancer risk" is an understandable shortcut.
The hazard from sunlight and tanning beds was never light in general. It was ultraviolet light specifically. Once you separate those two ideas, the cancer question gets much easier to reason about.
Key Distinction
How Red Light Therapy Differs From Tanning Beds and UV
| Feature | UV Tanning Bed | Red Light Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Light emitted | Ultraviolet (UVA/UVB) | Red (~660nm) and near-infrared (~850nm) |
| Can it damage DNA directly? | Yes, UV damages DNA in skin cells | No UV content, lower energy per photon |
| Established skin cancer link | Yes, well documented | No, current evidence does not indicate one |
| Causes a tan? | Yes, that is the point | No, there is no UV to trigger one |
| Typical session | Varies, cumulative UV dose adds up | 15 minutes in the Prism Light Pod |
A tanning bed is a UV delivery system. A red light therapy pod is a UV-free LED array tuned to wavelengths that have been studied for recovery and skin health, not for tanning. You will not bronze in a red light pod, because there is no UV to trigger melanin production.
Physics, Briefly
Is Red Light Therapy Radiation?
In the physics sense, yes. So is the light from a lamp. "Radiation" just means energy traveling as waves or particles. The question that matters for health is which kind.
Ionizing radiation
Enough energy to knock electrons off atoms. X-rays and the radiation from radioactive material are examples. This is the kind with well known cancer risks at higher doses.
Non-ionizing radiation
Enough energy to make molecules vibrate or warm up, but not to knock electrons off atoms. Radio waves, microwaves, visible light, and infrared all fall here, including the red and near-infrared light in our pod.
UV is the odd one out. It is usually grouped with non-ionizing radiation, yet it still carries enough energy to damage DNA directly, which is why it is singled out for skin cancer risk. Red and near-infrared light carry less energy per photon than UV and contain no UV, so the "radiation" label should not worry you the way an X-ray might.
Skin Cancer
Can Red Light Therapy Cause Melanoma or Skin Cancer?
There is no established link between red light therapy and melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, or squamous cell carcinoma. The National Cancer Institute lists sunlight and artificial UV, such as tanning beds and sunlamps, as the exposure behind both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer risk. Red light therapy devices do not emit UV.
That still leaves three sensible rules if skin cancer is on your mind:
History of melanoma or many atypical moles
Talk to your dermatologist before starting any light-based therapy. They know your skin and your risk better than any clinic.
A spot that is new, changing, or bleeding
Get it checked first. Do not put any light device on an area that has not been looked at, and never treat red light as a substitute for a skin check.
Sun protection still matters
Red light therapy does not protect you from UV. Sunscreen, shade, and regular skin checks are still the basics.
Try a Supervised Session: Your First One Is Free
Book a 15-minute session in the Prism Light Pod at our Ravenna clinic. Goggles are provided, staff are on site the whole time, and you can ask every safety question you have before you step in.
The Harder Question
Can Red Light Therapy Make Cancer Cells Grow?
This one deserves a careful answer, because it is a genuine research question rather than a myth. Red light therapy is studied for its effects on cell activity. The obvious follow-up is whether light that affects healthy cells could also affect cancer cells that are already there.
Here is where the published evidence stands. Lab studies that shine light on cancer cell lines in a dish have produced conflicting results. Systematic reviews that pull together animal studies and clinical studies, most of them in cancer-care settings where light is used to manage treatment side effects, have not found tumor safety problems at recommended settings. A 2023 review focused on skin rejuvenation reached a similar conclusion for cosmetic use. Researchers in all of these reviews still call for more study.
None of that means red light therapy treats cancer. It does not, and nobody should use it in place of cancer care.
Our position: if you have active cancer, are in treatment, or have a history of skin or eye cancer, do not start red light therapy on your own. Ask your oncologist or dermatologist first, and bring the details: 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared light, full-body exposure, 15 minutes per session.
Device Differences
Red LED Masks and At-Home Devices vs a Clinical Pod
On the cancer question specifically, masks, panels, and pods share the same answer: none of them should emit UV. The differences are about control, not cancer.
| LED Mask or Home Panel | Clinic Pod at MindBody Med | |
|---|---|---|
| Output and wavelengths | Varies widely by brand. Hard to verify. | Calibrated 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared |
| Coverage | Face or one body area | Full body, 17,000 LEDs |
| Eyes | Masks sit right in front of the eyes | Goggles provided at every session |
| Session timing | Up to you, easy to overdo | Automated 15-minute programs |
| Someone to ask | The manual | Staff on site during your session |
If you buy a home device, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests looking for one that is FDA-cleared and checking with a dermatologist first, particularly if you have darker skin, take medication that makes you sensitive to light, or have a light-sensitive condition. Masks also put LEDs very close to your eyes, which is its own topic, covered in Is Red Light Therapy Bad for Your Eyes?
Honest Answers
Red Light Therapy Health Risks That Are Real
Cancer is not on the list of established risks. These are, and they are all manageable:
Photosensitivity and medications
Certain antibiotics, retinoids, and other medications can make skin more reactive to light. If you take one, check with your prescriber before booking.
Eye comfort
The LEDs are bright. Staring into them can cause temporary strain or afterimages. Closed eyes or the goggles we provide handle this.
Overuse and skin irritation
More is not better. Very long or very frequent sessions with high-output devices may cause temporary redness or irritation.
Device quality
Consumer devices vary in wavelength accuracy and output. A poorly made device is harder to use safely and consistently.
For the complete list of side effects and how to keep them small, read Is Red Light Therapy Safe? Side Effects and Who Should Avoid It.
Before You Book
Who Should Not Start Red Light Therapy Without a Doctor's OK
Before your first session, we ask you to check with your own doctor if any of these apply to you:
Pregnancy has its own considerations, including heat and lying on your back for 15 minutes. We cover them in Red Light Therapy During Pregnancy.
At MindBody Med Seattle
What a Session Looks Like in Our Clinic
MindBody Med in Ravenna uses a full-body Prism Light Pod: a medical-grade, FDA-registered device with calibrated 660nm and 850nm wavelengths and automated 15-minute programs. Goggles are provided at every session and staff are on site if you have questions before, during, or after.
Zero UV output
Red and near-infrared wavelengths only
FDA-registered
Medical-grade device, not a consumer panel
15-minute sessions
Automated programs, goggles provided
Red Light Therapy and Cancer: Common Questions
Can red light therapy cause cancer?
Current evidence does not indicate that red light therapy causes cancer. Red and near-infrared light contain no ultraviolet radiation, the type of light linked to skin cancer from sun exposure and tanning beds, and they are non-ionizing. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that research has not found red light to cause any type of cancer. Long-term research on frequent use is still ongoing, so anyone with a history of cancer should talk to their oncologist or dermatologist before starting.
Can red light therapy cause melanoma or skin cancer?
There is no established link between red light therapy and melanoma or other skin cancers. The main environmental risk factor for skin cancer, including melanoma, is ultraviolet exposure from the sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Red light therapy devices do not emit UV. If you have a history of melanoma, many moles, or a spot that is changing, see your dermatologist first, and do not use any light device as a substitute for a skin check.
Can red light therapy make cancer cells grow?
This is a real research question, not a myth. Lab studies on cancer cell lines have produced conflicting results, which is why the question keeps coming up. Systematic reviews of animal and clinical studies, mostly in cancer-care settings, have not found tumor safety problems at recommended settings, but research continues. If you have active cancer or are in treatment, do not start red light therapy on your own. Ask your oncologist first.
Is red light therapy radiation?
Technically yes, in the same way visible light is radiation: it is electromagnetic energy. But it is non-ionizing radiation, meaning it does not carry enough energy to knock electrons off atoms. That puts it in a completely different category from ionizing radiation like X-rays, and it contains none of the UV found in sunlight and tanning beds.
Can infrared light cause cancer?
Near-infrared light, the kind used in red light therapy (around 850nm), is non-ionizing and is not an established cancer risk. You experience infrared every day as warmth from the sun or a heater. The practical risks with infrared are heat-related, such as discomfort or skin irritation from very long or very intense exposure, not cancer.
Is red light therapy the same as a tanning bed?
No. Tanning beds emit ultraviolet radiation, which damages DNA in skin cells and is a well established skin cancer risk. Red light therapy devices emit red and near-infrared wavelengths that contain no UV. They can look similar, which is where much of the confusion comes from, but the light is fundamentally different.
Are red LED face masks safe, or can they cause cancer?
Red LED masks do not emit UV either, so the cancer question has the same answer. The bigger practical differences are output and quality, which vary a lot between products, and how close the LEDs sit to your eyes. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests checking that a device is FDA-cleared and talking to a dermatologist first, especially if you have darker skin, take light-sensitizing medication, or have a light-sensitive condition.
I have had cancer. Can I use red light therapy?
Possibly, but that decision belongs with your oncologist or dermatologist, not with a clinic or a device maker. Bring the specifics: the device, the wavelengths (ours are 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared), session length (15 minutes), and which areas would be exposed. We would rather you ask first and come in with a clear answer.
Who should avoid red light therapy or check with a doctor first?
Check with your doctor first if you have active cancer or a history of skin or eye cancer, take photosensitizing medications such as certain antibiotics or retinoids, have a light-sensitive condition such as lupus, have epilepsy or a seizure history triggered by light, have an eye condition, or are pregnant. We ask pregnant patients to get clearance from their OB or midwife before booking.
Try a Supervised Session: Your First One Is Free
Ask us anything in person, then try the Prism Light Pod at our Ravenna clinic on NE 65th Street. 15 minutes, goggles provided, no UV, free on-site parking, and your first session costs nothing.
More on Red Light Therapy Safety
Is Red Light Therapy Safe?
Side effects, who should avoid it, and how a clinic session differs
Is Red Light Therapy Bad for Your Eyes?
Near-infrared, cataracts, and why goggles matter
Red Light Therapy During Pregnancy
What is known, what is not, and what to ask your OB
How Often Should You Do Red Light Therapy?
Session frequency and why more is not better
Sources
- Is red light therapy right for your skin?, American Academy of Dermatology
- Skin Cancer Prevention (PDQ), Patient Version, National Cancer Institute
- The Risks of Tanning, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Radiation Basics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Safety and efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy in oncology: A systematic review (Cancer Medicine, 2020), NIH National Library of Medicine (PMC)
- Tumor safety and side effects of photobiomodulation therapy used for prevention and management of cancer treatment toxicities: A systematic review (Oral Oncology, 2019), PubMed
- Photobiomodulation: A Systematic Review of the Oncologic Safety of Low-Level Light Therapy for Aesthetic Skin Rejuvenation (Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2023), NIH National Library of Medicine (PMC)
This article is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for a conversation with your healthcare provider. Red light therapy is a complementary wellness service. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.