LED & Contraindications
LED is enjoyed by many and The Light Salon is committed to providing our customers with the best information for safe use of our devices and treatments.
The contraindications information published below is to help keep you informed so you can enjoy the benefits of LED with confidence.
DO NOT use The Light Salon Boost® Advanced LED Mask, Bib, Patch or Collar to treat any other conditions apart from those listed in the indications for use. The Advanced LED Mask, Bib and Patch have not been tested for any other conditions than those listed and the risk is unknown.
DO NOT use The Light Salon Boost® Advanced LED Mask, Bib, Patch or Collar if you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant or breastfeeding. The Advanced LED Mask, Bib and Patch has NOT been tested on pregnant or breast-feeding women and therefore the risk to the foetus, neonate or pregnant women is unknown.
DO NOT use The Light Salon Boost® Advanced LED Mask, Bib, Patch or Collar if you suffer from lupus erythematosus, photosensitive eczema or albinism. If you use the Advanced LED Mask, Bib or Patch to treat lupus erythematosus, photosensitive eczema or albinism you may cause a severe skin reaction.
DO NOT use The Light Salon Boost® Advanced LED Mask, Bib, Patch or Collar if you suffer from any photosensitive disorder (sensitisation to light). If you use the Advanced LED Mask, Bib or Patch and you suffer from a photosensitive disorder you may cause a severe skin reaction.
DO NOT use The Light Salon Boost® Advanced LED Mask, Bib, Patch or Collar if you are taking any medication that can cause photosensitivity. If you use the Advanced LED Mask, Bib or Patch and you are taking any medication that can causes photosensitivity you may cause a severe skin reaction.
DO NOT use The Light Salon Boost® Advanced LED Mask if you suffer from light induced headaches.
DO NOT use The Light Salon Boost® Advanced LED Mask if you suffer from any genetic conditions of the eye.
Photosensitivity is a common side effect of various medications.
These can include certain antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and diuretics. If you are unsure about any medication you may be taking please consult your healthcare provider.
Other substances not listed above can also cause photosensitivity. Common examples of these substances are:
St John's wort, coal tar, deodorants, antibacterial soaps, artificial sweeteners, naphthalene (mothballs), petroleum products, brightening agents found in laundry detergent, and cadmium sulphide (a chemical injected into the skin during tattooing).
There are some instances in which the The Light Salon Boost® Advanced LED Mask, Bib or Patch photofacial may prove unsuitable for an individual. Certain medical conditions or drugs may mean that an individual is unsuitable for the treatment.
Precautions due to drug induced photosensitivity.
If you are taking any of the drugs listed below, please read the comments section of the table:
Drug type | Specific group | Comments |
Anti-Arthritic | Gold 50 or Ridaura | If YES, the treatment cannot be administered |
Anti-Arthritic or Immunosuppressant | Azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan) | If YES, the treatment can be administered as long as the medication has not been taken within the last 5 days. |
Anti-Arrythmic | Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), Aratac | If YES, the treatment can be administered as long as the medication has not been taken within the last 5 days. |
| Quinidine | If YES, and the client is currently on the medication it is at the discretion of the client as to whether they commence the treatment. There is a 10/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has stopped taking the medication for +5 days then the treatment can be administered. |
Antibiotics | Fluoroquinolones: Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), Levofloxacin (Levaquin), Lomefloxacin (Maxaquin),Norfloxacin (Noroxin), Ofloxacin (Floxin) Tetracyclines: Demeclocycline (Declomycin), Doxycycline (Vibramycin), Minocycline (Minocin), Oxytetracycline (Terramycin) Others: Azithromycin (Zithromax), Capreomycin (Capastat), Ceftazidime (Fortaz),cycloserine (Seromycin),Metronidazole (Flagyl), nalidixic acid (NegGram), pyrazinamide, sulfamethoxazole/ trimethoprim (Bactrim) | If YES, the treatment can be administered as long as the medication has not been taken within the last 5 days. |
Anti-Cancer | Bexarotene (Targretin), Capecitabine (Xeloda), Dacarbazine (DTIC), Epirubicin (Ellence), Fluorouracil (5-FU), Interferon alfa (Intron A, Alferon-N), Methotrexate (Mexate), Pentostatin (Nipent), Procarbazine (Matulane), Tretinoin, oral (Vesanoid), Vinblastine (Velban, Velbe) | If YES, and the client is currently on the medication it is at the discretion of the client as to whether they commence the treatment. There is between a 1 /100 and 5/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has stopped taking the medication for +5 days then the treatment can be administered. |
Anticonvulsants | Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Felbamate (Felbatol), Gabapentin (Neurontin), Lamotrigine (Lamictal), Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), Topiramate (Topamax), Valproic acid (Depakene) | If YES, and the client is currently on the medication it is at the discretion of the client as to whether they commence the treatment. There is a 1/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has stopped taking the medication for +5 days then the treatment can be administered. |
Antifungals | Flucytosine (Ancobon), Griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Gris-PEG), Terconazole (Terazol) Voriconazole (VFEND) | If YES, the treatment can be administered as long as the medication has not been taken within the last 5 days. |
Antihistamines | Cetirizine (Zyrtec), Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), Loratadine (Claritin), Promethazine (Phenergan) | If YES, the treatment can be administered as long as the medication has not been taken within the last 5 days. |
Antihypertensives | Captopril (Capoten), Diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac), Enalapril (Vasotec), Nifedipine (Procardia), Sotalol (Betapace)
| If YES, the treatment can be administered as long as the medication has not been taken within the last 5 days. |
Antimalarial | Chloroquine (Aralen), Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), Pyrimethamine (Daraprim), Pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine (Fansidar), Quinine
| If YES, the treatment can be administered as long as the medication has not been taken within the last 5 days |
Antipsychotics | Phenothiazines: Chlorpromazine (Thorazine), Fluphenazine (Prolixin), Perphenazine (Trilafon), Prochlorperazine (Compazine), Thioridazine (Mellaril), Trifluoperazine (Stelazine) | If YES, and the client is currently on the medication it is at the discretion of the client as to whether they commence the treatment. There is between a 2/100 and 3/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has stopped taking the medication for +5 days then the treatment can be administered. |
Antiretroviral | Ritonavir (Norvir), Saquinavir (Fortovase,Invirase), Zalcitabine (Hivid) | If YES, it is at the discretion of the client as to whether they commence the treatment. If YES, it is at the discretion of the client as to whether they commence the treatment. There is approximately a 2/100 chance of a light reaction. |
Antiviral | Amantadine (Symmetrel), Acyclovir (Zovirax) | If YES, and the client is currently on the medication it is at the discretion of the client as to whether they commence the treatment. There is approximately a 1/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has stopped taking the medication for +5 days then the treatment can be administered. |
Cardiovascular | Thiazide diuretics: Bendroflumethiazide (Corzide), Chlorthalidone (Thalitone), Hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), Hydroflumethiazide (Diucardin), Indapamide (Lozol), Methyclothiazide (Enduron), Metolazone (Zaroxolyn), Polythiazide (Renese) Diuretics, Other: Furosemide (Lasix), Triamterene (Dyrenium) | If YES, the treatment can be administered as long as the medication has not been taken within the last 5 days. |
Lipid regulators Other | Fenofibrate (Tricor) | If YES, and the client is currently on the medication it is at the discretion of the client as to whether they commence the treatment. There is a 10/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has stopped taking the medication for +5 days then the treatment can be administered. |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) Analgesics | Diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), Naproxen (Anaprox) | If YES, and the client is currently on the medication it is at the discretion of the client as to whether they commence the treatment. There is a <1/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has stopped taking the medication for +1 day, then the treatment can be administered. |
Sedatives | Alprazolam (Xanax), Chlordiazepoxide (Librium), Zaleplon (Sonata), Zolpidem (Ambien) | If YES, and the client is currently on the medication it is at the discretion of the client as to whether they commence the treatment. There is a 1/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has stopped taking the medication for +5 days then the treatment can be administered. |
Skin agents (acne) | Isotretinoin (Accutane, Roaccutane) Tretinoin topical (Renova, Retin-A) Tazarotene (Tazorac) | If YES, and the client is currently on the medication it is at the discretion of the client as to whether they commence the treatment. There is between a 5/100 and a 10/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has stopped taking the medication for +5 days then the treatment can be administered. |
Skin agents (hair) | Coal tar, Minoxidil (Rogaine) | If YES, and the client is currently on the medication it is at the discretion of the client as to whether they commence the treatment. There is <0.5/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has stopped taking the medication for +5 days then the treatment can be administered. |
I've read that light sensitivity is a contraindications but what about prescription Retin A (Tretinoin)? Is that problematic?
Light sensitivity isn’t always a contraindication but it’s highlighted so users act with caution. For some people, topical and oral medication may cause your body to absorb more light in one go, which can overwhelm the cells and cause an adverse reaction - whether it’s temporary redness or an itchy rash. Ways around this are to complete the patch test when on oral medication, to ensure your body reacts well to light, and always apply topical medication (such as Retin-A) after your light treatment - leaving a good 24-48 hours post application before delivering the light again. Microdermabrasion superficially exfoliates the top layers of skin and doesn’t cause light sensitivity to LED (remember it is not UV and does not physically heat up the skin).
However an additional issue that can occur when using specific prescription strength topical medications such as Tretinoin and Benzylperoxide (ie DUAC), which speed up cellular turnover causing dryness and shedding side effects. LED can increase further increase the cellular turnover and shedding. Therefore it is best to reduce the application of LED during the period of time that you are using the topical medication.