Red Light Therapy Safety: Eyes, Skin Type and Who Should Talk to a Doctor First

Short answer: Red light therapy devices are considered low-risk for general wellness when used as directed, but they are bright, and some pair light with heat or PEMF. Protect your eyes, start with shorter sessions, and check with a doctor first if you have a medical condition, are pregnant, are photosensitive, take light-sensitizing medication or have an implanted device.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Educational only, not medical advice. See our disclaimer. The manufacturer's instructions override anything here.

Protect your eyes

• Use the protective eyewear supplied with the device. Beds, in particular, are bright across the whole body, and Merican beds list protective eyewear as included.
• Near-infrared light is invisible, so a device can be putting out light your eyes do not register. Do not look into the LEDs.
• Close your eyes or use goggles when treating the face, and follow the manufacturer's guidance for facial use. Head devices such as helmets and intranasal systems have their own instructions.

Skin and heat

• Red light itself produces little heat, but some devices add heat. The Solbasium Optix pads, for example, offer adjustable heat settings (105, 109 and 117°F). Do not use heat over skin you cannot feel, and check your skin during and after a session.
• Start with shorter sessions and build up, especially with very fair or sensitive skin.
• Stop if you notice redness, blistering, burning or unusual discomfort.
• Follow the manufacturer's distance and timer guidance. More time or a closer distance is not necessarily better.
• Clean skin of lotions, sunscreen and makeup that could absorb light or cause irritation, unless the manual says otherwise.

Photosensitivity and medications

Some medicines and skin conditions make skin more sensitive to light. If you are photosensitive or take a medication that affects light sensitivity, check with your doctor or pharmacist before using a red light device. Lists of these medications change, so ask a professional and do not rely on a general list.

Who should check with a doctor first

• Anyone with a medical condition, particularly skin conditions, eye conditions or a history of skin cancer.
• Anyone who is pregnant or nursing.
• Anyone photosensitive or taking light-sensitizing medication.
• Anyone with an implanted electronic device such as a pacemaker. This matters most for products that add PEMF, such as the LS Pro Sports Performance Pad, Solbasium Helios bed and stand-alone PEMF mats, so check with the device manufacturer and your doctor.
• Children.

Do not use a device over a suspicious mole or lesion, and have new or changing skin marks checked by a professional.

Using devices in hyperbaric chambers

Some LS Pro pads state that they are built or pressure-tested for chamber use. Oxygen-enriched chambers carry fire risk, so confirm with both manufacturers before bringing any electronics inside a chamber, and follow the chamber manual.

Safe-use checklist

1. Read the manual and confirm the intended use.
2. Put on eye protection.
3. Set the recommended distance and timer.
4. Start with a shorter session and note how your skin responds.
5. Stay hydrated and let a bed cool between uses if the manual says so.
6. Stop and seek advice if something feels wrong.

Read the Red Light Therapy Guide, see every red light device we carry, browse red light devices, or contact us.