Can You Use Red Light Therapy While Pregnant?

Updated: 08/20/2026

Can you use red light therapy while pregnant?  Red light therapy is generally considered a safe treatment, but pregnancy-specific research is still limited, so experts cannot confirm that routine red light therapy is safe for the mother or baby.

The cautious choice is to wait until after pregnancy unless your OB-GYN, midwife, or prenatal medical provider approves a specific treatment. The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery states that pregnant women are not good candidates for photobiomodulation because the effects on a fetus remain unknown.

This caution applies to home masks, panels, wraps, professional devices, and near-infrared light. As a precaution, avoid direct use over the abdomen, pelvis, or lower back.

What Is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy uses visible red light or near-infrared light. It is also called:

• Photobiomodulation
• PBM
• Low-level light therapy
• Low-level laser therapy
• LED light therapy

The light may affect how cells produce energy and respond to stress. Clinics and device companies use it for skin care, pain, recovery, inflammation, wounds, and hair loss.

Red and near-infrared light are non-ionizing. They are not the same as ultraviolet light, X-rays, laser hair removal, or photodynamic therapy. However, non-ionizing does not mean proven safe during pregnancy.

Visible red light mainly affects tissue closer to the skin. Near-infrared light can reach deeper tissue. A provider must review the exact device because each product can use different wavelengths, strength levels, and treatment times.

Is Red Light Therapy Safe During Pregnancy?

Using red light therapy while pregnant has a good short-term safety record for many adults, but that does not prove red light therapy pregnancy safety.

The American Academy of Dermatology says that short-term use appears safe for most people. However, researchers still do not know the long-term effects of red light devices. Pregnancy adds another concern because there are not enough direct studies on fetal safety.

If your medical provider believes a specific use may help, they should review:

• The exact device
• The type of light
• The treatment area
• The reason for use
• The manufacturer’s warning
• Your health and pregnancy history

Benefits of Red Light Therapy During Pregnancy

Some people consider red light therapy treatment during pregnancy to help with common discomforts. However, most research comes from nonpregnant adults, and there is not enough evidence to confirm these benefits during pregnancy.

Possible benefits that are often discussed include:

• Temporary relief of muscle and joint discomfort
• Reduced inflammation
• Support for tissue healing
• Improvement in some skin concerns
• Pain relief during labor under medical supervision

One small clinical study found that LED light therapy reduced pain during active labor when used under a controlled medical protocol. However, this does not prove that red light therapy is safe or effective for pregnancy-related back pain, pelvic pain, sciatica, swelling, or other common pregnancy symptoms.

There is also no strong clinical evidence that red light therapy improves placental health, supports fetal development, or prevents pregnancy complications.

If you are pregnant and looking for pain relief or treatment for another health concern, speak with your prenatal provider about the safest options for your situation before using red light therapy.

Risks and Contraindications of Red Light Therapy During Pregnancy

The biggest concern with red light therapy during pregnancy is the lack of strong research. There is not enough evidence to confirm that it is safe for pregnant women or unborn babies.

Possible risks and reasons to avoid treatment include:

• Unknown effects on fetal development
• No proven safe treatment plan during pregnancy
• Skin redness or irritation
• Warmth or burns from incorrect use
• Eye discomfort without proper protection
• Darker skin pigmentation in some people
• Reactions in people with light-sensitive conditions
• Reactions with medicines that increase light sensitivity

You should also avoid red light therapy without medical advice if you have:

• Lupus or another light-sensitive condition
• Photosensitive eczema
• A genetic eye condition
• Broken, infected, or irritated skin
• A recent surgery or injury
• Medicines that increase light sensitivity, such as some antibiotics, acne medicines, cancer medicines, and diuretics

In addition, do not use a red light device if the manufacturer advises against use during pregnancy or if you cannot confirm the device’s safety instructions, treatment area, or eye protection requirements.

Before using any red light therapy device during pregnancy, discuss it with your OB-GYN, midwife, or prenatal healthcare provider.

Can You Use a Red Light Face Mask While Pregnant?

A red light face mask treats an area far from the uterus, but that does not make it automatically safe during pregnancy.

Manufacturers may give different instructions. Omnilux states that its LED devices have not received specific study in pregnant or breastfeeding women. It advises against use unless a personal doctor approves it.

CurrentBody states that several of its LED masks should not be used during pregnancy because researchers have not tested them on pregnant users and the risk remains unknown.

Before you use an LED light therapy mask:

• Read the manual for your exact model
• Check whether it uses red, near-infrared, blue, or mixed light
• Follow its pregnancy warning
• Review your medicines and skin conditions
• Ask your prenatal provider
• Use the required eye protection

Do not copy the settings or session time from another mask. Products differ in strength, heat, wavelength, distance from the skin, and intended use.

Red Light Therapy During Each Trimester

There is not enough research to confirm that red light therapy is safe during the first, second, or third trimester. No proven pregnancy-safe wavelength, dose, session length, or treatment area exists.

First Trimester

The first trimester is an important stage of fetal development. Red light therapy has not received enough study during this period. Do not use it to treat fatigue, stress, acne, or other concerns unless your prenatal provider approves the exact device and treatment area.

Second Trimester

Back pain, muscle tension, and skin changes may become more noticeable during the second trimester. However, research does not prove that red light therapy safely treats these problems during pregnancy. Ask your provider about better-studied options, such as pregnancy-safe exercise, posture changes, support devices, or physical therapy. ACOG supports appropriate exercise for most healthy pregnancies and provides guidance for pregnancy-related back pain.

Third Trimester

Sleep problems, back pain, and swelling may increase later in pregnancy. Red light therapy has not been proven to improve sleep or reduce swelling during the third trimester. One small study found that LED treatment reduced pain during active labor without changing the measured fetal outcomes. However, this controlled treatment does not prove that routine home or clinic red light therapy is safe during the third trimester.

Does FDA Clearance Mean a Device Is Safe During Pregnancy?

No. FDA clearance does not prove that a red light device was tested during pregnancy. FDA clearance applies to a specific device and its stated intended use. It does not confirm that the device works for every marketing claim or that it is safe for every medical group.

The FDA states that only a small share of 510(k) device submissions require clinical data. The American Academy of Dermatology also warns that terms such as “FDA approved” or “FDA certified” may appear in red light marketing even when those terms do not apply to the device.

Check the manufacturer’s pregnancy warning even when the product says FDA-cleared.

What Areas Should You Avoid During Pregnancy?

As a precaution, do not use red light therapy directly over the:

• Abdomen
• Uterus
• Pelvic area
• Lower back

These areas sit close to the pregnancy and should not receive elective treatment when fetal safety remains uncertain.

Avoid full-body red light panels and infrared sauna blankets unless your prenatal medical provider gives clear approval. Heat-based products are not the same as low-level red light therapy and may create added concerns.

For any other body area, ask your rehabilitation provider in Las Vegas before treatment. Face-only or limb-only use still needs a device review and medical approval. Professional laser and PBM organizations advise caution because pregnancy-specific evidence remains limited.

What Does Research Say About Red Light Therapy During Pregnancy?

Research does not give a simple yes or no answer. Direct evidence for routine red light therapy while pregnant remains weak.

A 2019 review examined 22 reports that included 380 pregnant patients who received different medical laser procedures. The review found no clear pattern of harm, apart from one event with an uncertain link to treatment.

However, most evidence came from small reports. The procedures used different lasers, body areas, doses, and medical purposes. The review does not prove that home masks, full-body panels, wraps, or pain devices are safe during pregnancy.

A separate systematic review looked at elective laser treatments during pregnancy. It did not recommend laser therapy for musculoskeletal problems during pregnancy because evidence was lacking. This point matters for people who want red light therapy for back, hip, joint, or muscle pain.

One small randomized trial tested LED photobiomodulation for pain during labor. The treatment reduced pain without changes in measured fetal well-being, Apgar scores, or labor length.

This study used one treatment during active labor under a clinical protocol. It does not create a safe home plan for the first, second, or third trimester.

Researchers have also studied red light on placental tissue and cells in a laboratory. That research may help scientists understand cell behavior, but it did not test routine treatment on pregnant patients.

It does not prove that red light:

• Improves the placenta
• Prevents preeclampsia
• Supports fetal growth
• Prevents pregnancy problems
• Improves birth outcomes

Laboratory research should not act as proof of safety or benefit for pregnant patients.

What If You Used Red Light Therapy Before You Knew You Were Pregnant?

Do not panic. Existing reports have not shown a clear pattern of fetal harm from medical laser procedures. However, the evidence is not strong enough to guarantee safety.

Stop elective use and tell your prenatal provider:

• The device brand and model
• Whether it used red or near-infrared light
• The body area you treated
• How long each session lasted
• How many sessions you completed
• The dates of use
• Whether you felt heat, pain, or irritation

Your provider can decide whether you need extra follow-up.

Can You Use Red Light Therapy While Breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is a separate safety question. The National Library of Medicine’s LactMed database states that laser therapy and phototherapy are generally acceptable during breastfeeding. However, this does not mean that every home red light device or treatment area is suitable.

Some manufacturers advise against use while breastfeeding because their products have not been studied in nursing users.

Do not use a device directly on the breasts, nipples, a C-section incision, or another healing area without medical approval.

Ask your postpartum or lactation provider when you can restart treatment, especially after surgery, pregnancy complications, or skin injury.

Red Light Therapy in Las Vegas After Medical Clearance

Speak with your OB-GYN, midwife, or prenatal medical provider before you use red light therapy while pregnant.

If your provider approves a specific treatment, Dynamic Spine & Sport Rehabilitation can review your goals and treatment area and see if professional red light therapy is appropriate for your situation.

Joseph E. Indrieri, MSPT, DPT, is the Founder and Lead Physical Therapist at Dynamic Spine & Sport Rehabilitation. He has more than 20 years of physical therapy experience, serves on the Nevada Physical Therapy Board, and is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Academy of Manual Therapists.

Visit one of our five locations in Las Vegas, Henderson, Spring Valley, East Las Vegas, or Downtown Las Vegas, or call 702-685-1607 to schedule a consultation.

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