Medical disclaimer

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WellSpecs compares red light therapy devices and home saunas on published specs, FDA records and independent measurements. Nothing on this site is medical advice, and it doesn't replace a conversation with your doctor or pharmacist.

What the site does and doesn't do

Our pages describe devices and summarize what published studies found. A study result describes the people in that study, with that device and that dose. It isn't a promise of what a device will do for you. We don't diagnose conditions or recommend treatment, and when a benefit has no published study behind it, we say whose claim it is: the brand's or the owners'.

Ask a doctor before red light therapy if

  • you're pregnant or breastfeeding. The Joovv, Mito and CurrentBody manuals all say to check first;
  • you take medication or use skin products that make you more sensitive to light. Joovv's examples are tetracycline, digoxin and Retin-A;
  • you have a condition that makes you sensitive to light, such as lupus (American Academy of Dermatology);
  • you have an eye condition, a history of skin cancer, or a spot that's new or changing (CurrentBody and Mito manuals);
  • you have an overactive thyroid and plan to use the device on your neck or chest (Mito manual);
  • you have darker skin, which dermatologists say is more sensitive to visible light and can develop dark patches (AAD).

Protect your eyes the way the manual says. Sunglasses aren't a substitute for the goggles a device asks for. The red light therapy guide links each manual.

Ask a doctor before using a sauna if

  • you have heart disease, especially unstable angina, a recent heart attack, uncontrolled high blood pressure or severe aortic stenosis (Hannuksela & Ellahham, 2001; Brown University Health);
  • you have low blood pressure, a fever or an infection (Brown University Health);
  • you're pregnant. “Hot tub or sauna use during pregnancy should be limited” (MotherToBaby);
  • you take medicines that make heat harder to handle, such as diuretics, beta-blockers and some antidepressants. The CDC's list is about heat in general, not saunas in particular.

Don't drink alcohol before or during a session, which raises the risk of low blood pressure and heart rhythm problems (Hannuksela & Ellahham), and don't use a sauna alone: in a study of 77 sauna deaths, all but two people were alone (Rodhe & Eriksson, 2008). Children need close adult supervision.

What “FDA cleared” means

A 510(k) clearance means the FDA found a device “substantially equivalent” to one already legally sold, for the uses written into the clearance (FDA). It isn't approval, which is a stricter process for higher-risk devices, and it doesn't tell you how well a device works. “FDA registered” or “listed” only means the company told the FDA about the device; the FDA says that entry “does not denote approval, clearance, or authorization” (FDA). How we label each device: Reading FDA records.

Evidence and claims

Where a page discusses what a device might do, it links the study and rates the evidence as strong, moderate, limited or none. The scale is on How we research devices.

If something goes wrong

Stop using the device and get medical help if you get a burn, eye pain or a change in your vision, a rash that doesn't fade, or if you feel dizzy or faint in a sauna. In the US you can report a problem with a medical device to the FDA through MedWatch.