Red Light Therapy · Safety
Is Red Light Therapy Safe?
For most healthy adults, yes: it is generally considered low-risk. Here are the side effects worth knowing, who should avoid it or ask a doctor first, and how we run sessions in our Seattle clinic.
Medically reviewed by Dr. John Chevigny, DC, CCSP, CSCS, Chiropractor & Clinic Director
Published |Last reviewed
The Short Answer
Red light therapy is generally considered low-risk for most healthy adults when used as directed. It contains no UV, side effects are usually mild and temporary, and the main precautions are protecting your eyes and not overdoing session length. People who are pregnant, take photosensitizing medication, have active cancer, have light-triggered epilepsy, or have an eye condition should ask a doctor first.
Why Red Light Therapy Is Considered Low-Risk
Red light therapy, also called photobiomodulation, uses red (about 660nm) and near-infrared (about 850nm) light. Both are non-ionizing, meaning they do not carry enough energy to knock electrons off atoms the way X-rays do, and neither contains the UV found in sunlight and tanning beds. That rules out the two best known ways light harms the body: ionizing damage and UV damage.
The American Academy of Dermatology describes red light therapy as appearing to be safe in the short term, and notes that research has not found red light to cause any type of cancer. It also points out that FDA clearance on a device means the FDA considers it low risk, which is a statement about safety rather than results.
Two honest limits: long-term data on years of frequent use is thin, and "low-risk" describes the average healthy adult. Your own history matters more than any general statement, which is why the "who should ask first" list below is the most important part of this article.
What to Expect
Red Light Therapy Side Effects
Most people notice nothing beyond warmth. When side effects do happen, they are usually mild and short-lived:
Temporary redness or warmth
Skin can look a little flushed or feel warm after a session. This usually fades within a few hours.
Mild discomfort or irritated skin
The American Academy of Dermatology lists temporary mild pain or irritated skin as the side effects some people notice. It is more likely with very long or very frequent sessions.
Eye strain or afterimages
From looking toward bright LEDs. Closed eyes or goggles prevent it. Details in our eye safety guide.
Headache in light-sensitive people
Some people who are sensitive to bright light find intense light uncomfortable. If bright light triggers migraines for you, ask your doctor first and keep your eyes covered.
Darkening of skin in darker skin tones
The AAD notes that people with darker skin tones are more sensitive to visible light, including red light, which can lead to hyperpigmentation. If that applies to you and skin is your goal, talk to a dermatologist first.
Reactions linked to medication
Photosensitizing medications, such as certain antibiotics and retinoids, can make skin react more strongly to light. Check with your prescriber before you book.
What Is Not a Side Effect
Tanning
No UV, so no tan.
Sunburn
No UV, so no UV burn.
Cancer
No established link.
The cancer question gets its own full answer in Can Red Light Therapy Cause Cancer?, including melanoma and what to do if you have a cancer history. Eye effects are covered in Is Red Light Therapy Bad for Your Eyes?
Before You Book
Who Should Avoid Red Light Therapy or Ask a Doctor First
If any of these apply to you, do not start red light therapy on your own. Before your first session, we ask you to check with your own doctor.
Pregnancy
Red light therapy has not been established as safe in pregnancy. We ask pregnant patients to get clearance from their OB or midwife first.
Red light therapy during pregnancyPhotosensitizing medications
Certain antibiotics, retinoids, and other drugs increase light sensitivity. Ask your prescriber whether yours does.
Active cancer or a cancer history
If you have active cancer, are in treatment, or have had skin or eye cancer, ask your oncologist or dermatologist first.
Can red light therapy cause cancer?Epilepsy or light sensitivity
Flashing or pulsed light can be a trigger for some people with photosensitive epilepsy, and bright light can set off migraines. Ask your neurologist or doctor, and tell our staff before your session.
Eye conditions
Cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or past retinal problems: ask your eye doctor first.
Is red light therapy bad for your eyes?Light-sensitive skin conditions
Conditions such as lupus, or a history of light-triggered rashes, are worth raising with your doctor or dermatologist before any light-based therapy.
Also: do not use red light therapy on a new, changing, or bleeding spot on your skin that has not been checked by a doctor, and do not use it in place of care for any medical condition.
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.
Clinic vs Home
How a Supervised Clinic Session Is Different
The light is the same physics whether it comes from a mask, a panel, or a pod. What changes in a clinic is control. Here is what a session in the Prism Light Pod at MindBody Med looks like:
A medical-grade, FDA-registered device
Calibrated 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared output, with no UV. No guessing about what a product listing actually emits.
Fixed, automated 15-minute programs
The session length is set by the program, so overdoing it is not on the table.
Goggles at every session
Eye protection is handed to you, not left to a box insert.
Staff on site the whole time
You can ask questions before you start, step out at any point, and tell someone if anything feels off.
A plan for your goals
Your free first session includes a plan recommendation based on your goals. If something on the list above applies to you, mention it when you book, and check with your doctor before you start.
We also offer chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage under the same roof, so if red light therapy is not right for you right now, there are other options to talk through. See red light therapy at MindBody Med for pricing and how the pod works.
Dose
How Long and How Often Is Safe?
Session length depends on the device. In our full-body pod it is 15 minutes. A small panel aimed at one area is a different dose, so never copy a schedule from one device to another.
For frequency, most research protocols use 2 to 3 sessions per week, spread out rather than stacked. Daily use is generally considered low-risk, but there is no good evidence it works better, and photobiomodulation appears to have a ceiling where more light stops adding anything. More is not safer, and it is not better.
The full breakdown by goal is in How Often Should You Do Red Light Therapy?
Red Light Therapy Safety: Common Questions
Is red light therapy safe?
For most healthy adults, red light therapy is generally considered low-risk when used as directed. It contains no UV and is non-ionizing, and the side effects people report are usually mild and temporary, such as redness or eye strain. Long-term research on years of frequent use is still limited, and some people should ask a doctor first, including anyone who is pregnant, takes photosensitizing medication, has active cancer, has epilepsy triggered by light, or has an eye condition.
What are the side effects of red light therapy?
The most common side effects are temporary redness or warmth, mild discomfort or irritated skin, and eye strain or afterimages from looking at the LEDs. People with darker skin tones may be more prone to hyperpigmentation from visible light, and photosensitizing medications can make reactions stronger. Most side effects are avoided by keeping sessions to the set length, protecting your eyes, and checking medications first.
Who should not use red light therapy?
Do not start red light therapy without a doctor's OK if you are pregnant, take photosensitizing medication, have active cancer or a history of skin or eye cancer, have epilepsy or migraines triggered by light, have an eye condition, or have a light-sensitive condition such as lupus. We ask pregnant patients to get clearance from their OB or midwife before booking.
Is it safe to do red light therapy every day?
Daily use is generally considered low-risk with a device used as directed, but most research protocols use 2 to 3 sessions per week, and there is no good evidence that daily sessions work better. Photobiomodulation appears to have a dose ceiling, so more is not automatically better. Ask your provider before going daily.
Can red light therapy burn your skin?
Red light therapy contains no UV, so it does not cause sunburn. Very long or very intense sessions can cause warmth, redness, or irritation, and poorly made devices are harder to use safely. Stick to the session length set for your device. In our Prism Light Pod that is 15 minutes, run by an automated program.
Does red light therapy have radiation?
It emits light, which is a form of non-ionizing radiation, the same broad category as visible light and radio waves. It does not emit ionizing radiation like X-rays, and it contains no UV.
Is a clinic session safer than an at-home device?
Not automatically, but you get more control. A clinic device has calibrated wavelengths and fixed session times, goggles are provided, and someone is there to answer questions. At-home devices vary widely in output and quality. If you buy one, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests choosing an FDA-cleared device and checking with a dermatologist first.
Is red light therapy FDA approved?
Many red light devices are FDA-cleared or FDA-registered, which relates to the device's safety profile, not proof that it works for any particular goal. The Prism Light Pod we use is a medical-grade, FDA-registered device.
Try a Supervised Session: Your First One Is Free
Bring your safety questions to our Ravenna clinic at 2705 NE 65th St. 15 minutes in the Prism Light Pod, goggles provided, staff on site, free parking. After that, the intro package is 6 sessions for $149.
More on Red Light Therapy Safety
Can Red Light Therapy Cause Cancer?
UV, melanoma, and what the research shows
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
- The Risks of Tanning, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Radiation Basics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Do LED lights harm people's eyes?, American Academy of Ophthalmology
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.