Is Red Light Therapy Safe During Pregnancy? What the Research Says

Medically reviewed by Karen Wolters, RN.

Each day, more and more people worldwide are discovering the amazing benefits of a non-invasive healing modality known as “Red Light Therapy.” Simple, gentle, dependable, and easy-to-administer, Red Light Therapy has found a place in millions of lives. And for women in their child bearing years, one important question often arises: Can you use Red Light Therapy while pregnant? The answer, surprisingly, is both “yes” and “no.” And here’s why.

More Scientific Studies Are Needed

Red Light Therapy, also known as “low-level light therapy” (“LLLT”) and as “photobiomodulation” (“PBM”), is considered extremely safe and risk free. In fact, Red Light Therapy can be administered without worry regarding harmful side effects on every area of the body, except for the eyes. “In addition to its label as a nonpharmacologic therapy, light therapy is attractive to both clinicians and patients due to its noninvasiveness and lack of side effects, ultimately increasing patient compliance.”1 Furthermore, “PBM has an almost complete lack of reported adverse effects…”2 However, when it comes to using Red Light Therapy while pregnant, the current prevailing opinion of medical professionals is for expectant mothers to err on the side of caution and to not use Red Light Therapy directly over the developing fetus.

In a recent online article at Bump.com entitled, Can You Use Red Light Therapy While Pregnant?, writer Korin Miller quotes ob-gyn and women’s health expert Jennifer Wider, MD, who explains, “There isn’t enough evidence at this point to say whether red light therapy is completely safe during pregnancy.…Existing studies have revealed that there’s probably little risk, but more scientifically controlled studies are necessary to confirm safety during pregnancy.”3

Avoid Red Light Therapy Over the Abdomen and Lower Back

Since additional well-controlled scientific studies on humans are still needed to definitively confirm that Red Light Therapy poses no harm (either short-term or long-term) to the health of a developing fetus, at this point in time it is thought best to not use Red Light Therapy directly over the abdomen or womb, nor over the lower back during pregnancy.

It is not advised to use Red Light Therapy over the lower back because of the ability of the waves of light from the LED diodes to penetrate into the body. Referring to studies conducted by NASA, Len Saputo, MD, reports, “About 60% of the light goes four inches deep, and another 40% goes down to about ten inches.”4 The photons of Red Light are able to reach and be absorbed primarily in the deeper layers of the skin and soft tissues, so to protect the fetus do not place Red Light Therapy pads near the lower back area.

Red Light Therapy Can Be Used Over the Upper Body and Face During Pregnancy

Although Red Light Therapy on the abdomen and the lower back should be avoided, localized treatments over other areas of the body, such as the face, neck, shoulders, arms, knees, legs, ankles, and feet, should be able to be administered safely during pregnancy. However, consult your healthcare provider or obstetrician before using a Red Light Therapy device at any time during your pregnancy, especially during the first trimester when the fetus is thought to be the most vulnerable.

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Red Light Therapy During Pregnancy

Red Light Therapy can prove beneficial for alleviating the pains and discomforts brought on by the hormonal and physical changes experienced during pregnancy. But shorter treatment times are advised in order to avoid potential risks of skin irritation, or over stimulating skin that is already sensitive due to these hormonal changes.

Although Red Light Therapy treatments usually last for twenty minutes, during pregnancy shorter sessions of ten minutes or less just once per day are recommended. Watch for skin reactions after treatments, and excessive use of Red Light Therapy should be avoided.

Red Light Therapy Can Help During Pregnancy

Red Light Therapy can help alleviate these discomforts and ailments commonly experienced during pregnancy:

First Trimester (Weeks 1-12):

• Fatigue (due to an increase in blood volume and hormonal changes):

Tiredness and low energy are common problems during pregnancy. However, “Radiation of tissue with light causes an increase in mitochondrial products such as ATP, NADH, protein, and RNA.”5 Regular sessions of Red Light Therapy can have a revitalizing effect in the body as ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) levels are raised up, boosting cellular energy.

• Stress (due to physical and hormonal changes):

Red Light Therapy alleviates stress symptoms. People report that Red Light Therapy feels relaxing, comforting, and soothing. Pain, soreness, stiffness, and muscle tension are gone within minutes.

Second Trimester (Weeks 13-26):

• Back pain (due to weight gain and changes in posture): Use on upper back only.

Red Light Therapy has been regarded as “…an effective treatment modality to reduce pain in adult patients with musculoskeletal disorders.”6 And, “According to the more than 4000 studies on pub.med.gov, it can be concluded that the majority of laboratory and clinical studies have demonstrated that LLLT has a positive effect on acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain.”7 Plus, Red Light Therapy is non-toxic and non-addictive, unlike many pharmaceuticals in the marketplace.

• Leg Cramps:

Red Light Therapy can help ease the pain of leg cramps. Red Light Therapy devices have been granted FDA clearance for increasing circulation, relieving pain, relaxing muscles, and relieving muscle spasms.

Third Trimester (Weeks 27-40):

• Insomnia:

Regular sessions of Red Light Therapy can help with sleeping issues and sleep quality. A study of nurses who developed insomnia due to shift work concluded that light-emitting diode light therapy, “…three times a week for 4 weeks improved sleep quality in shift-work nurses with insomnia and alleviated depression, anxiety, and

stress symptoms…”8 Red Light Therapy pads can be placed over the upper back or neck to relax the body and mind, leading to better sleep.

• Swelling (Edema):

According to Dr. Michael Hamblin of Harvard University, a pioneer in the study of Light Therapy, “However one of the most general benefits of PBM that has recently emerged, is its pronounced anti-inflammatory effects….The local reduction of edema, and reductions in markers of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines are well established.”9 By increasing circulation and reducing inflammation, Red Light Therapy helps the body to reduce painful swelling.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

It is not widely known that another common ailment of pregnancy is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), labelled medically as “PRCTS,” or “pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome.” This condition occurs during pregnancy because of hormonal fluctuations, glucose level fluctuations, fluid accumulation, and hypersensitivity of the median nerve. “Pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome (PRCTS) is the most frequent mononeuropathy during pregnancy. The reported incidence of PRCTS varies widely and ranges from 0.8% to 70% depending on the diagnostic method and the physician.”10

However, since Red Light Therapy has been proven to help ease the pain of chronic musculoskeletal conditions, in theory it should also be able to help with carpal tunnel syndrome related to pregnancy (although studies limited to pregnant women have not yet been conducted). Studies have concluded that, “…chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, frozen shoulder, neck and back pain, epicondylitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinopathy, fibromyalgia, plantar fasciitis, post tibial fracture surgery and chronic regional pain syndrome are amenable to LLLT.”11

Summary

Red Light Therapy can be very beneficial during pregnancy, although caution is advised. Do not use high-intensity Red Light Therapy devices, or place Red Light Therapy pads directly over the abdomen or the lower back. Treatment sessions of once per day should be shorter, and limited to the neck, shoulders, arms, knees, legs, ankles, feet, and face.

Choose HealthLight for Red Light Therapy

Red Light Therapy can help stimulate, support, and accelerate healing for a wide range of issues throughout the body. As Dr. Michael R. Hamblin proclaims, “To a very great extent I believe that almost all types and variety of human diseases can be treated with light (of one kind or another).”12 However, the efficacy and safety of your Red Light Therapy treatment sessions are completely dependent upon the quality of your Red Light Therapy device. Purchasing a professional medical-grade, FDA-listed Red Light Therapy device from HealthLight will safely and effectively bring you all of the substantial benefits that Red Light Therapy has to offer. HealthLight makes the most powerful clinical-strength Red Light Therapy devices available in today’s marketplace, ensuring that you receive the most effective therapy for the best possible outcomes. When it comes to choosing a Red Light Therapy device, you can’t go wrong with HealthLight.