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 information below on contraindications is provided 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 to treat any other conditions apart from those listed in the indications for use. The Advanced LED Mask has not been tested for any conditions other than those listed, and the risk is unknown.
DO NOT use The Light Salon Boost® Advanced LED Mask if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. The Advanced LED Mask has NOT been tested on pregnant or breastfeeding women, and therefore the risk to the foetus, neonate or pregnant women is unknown.
DO NOT use The Light Salon Boost® Advanced LED Mask if you suffer from lupus erythematosus, photosensitive eczema or albinism. If you use the Advanced LED Mask 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 if you suffer from any photosensitive disorder (sensitisation to light). If you use the Advanced LED Mask and have a photosensitive disorder, you may experience a severe skin reaction.
DO NOT use The Light Salon Boost® Advanced LED Mask if you are taking any medication that can cause photosensitivity. If you use the Advanced LED Mask and you are taking any medication that can cause 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 Light Salon Boost® Advanced LED Mask photofacial may prove unsuitable for an individual. Certain medical conditions or medications may make an individual unsuitable for 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 taking the medication, it is at the client's discretion whether to commence treatment. There is a 10/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has not taken the medication for +5 days, 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 taking the medication, it is at the client's discretion whether to commence treatment. There is a 1/100 to 5/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has not taken the medication for +5 days, 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 taking the medication, it is at the client's discretion whether to commence treatment. There is a 1/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has not taken the medication for +5 days, 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 taking the medication, it is at the client's discretion whether to commence treatment. There is between a 2/100 and 3/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has not taken the medication for +5 days, the treatment can be administered. |
Antiretroviral | Ritonavir (Norvir), Saquinavir (Fortovase,Invirase), Zalcitabine (Hivid) | If YES, it is at the client's discretion whether to commence treatment. There is approximately a 2/100 chance of a light reaction. |
Antiviral | Amantadine (Symmetrel), Acyclovir (Zovirax) | If YES, and the client is currently taking the medication, it is at the client's discretion whether to commence treatment. There is approximately a 1/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has not taken the medication for +5 days, 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 taking the medication, it is at the client's discretion whether to commence treatment. There is a 10/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has not taken the medication for +5 days, the treatment can be administered. |
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) Analgesics | Diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), Naproxen (Anaprox) | If YES, and the client is currently taking the medication, it is at the client's discretion whether to commence treatment. There is a <1/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has not taken the medication for +1 day, the treatment can be administered. |
Sedatives | Alprazolam (Xanax), Chlordiazepoxide (Librium), Zaleplon (Sonata), Zolpidem (Ambien) | If YES, and the client is currently taking the medication, it is at the client's discretion whether to commence 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 taking the medication, it is at the client's discretion whether to commence treatment. There is a 5/100 to 10/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has not taken the medication for +5 days, the treatment can be administered. |
Skin agents (hair) | Coal tar, Minoxidil (Rogaine) | If YES, and the client is currently taking the medication, it is at the client's discretion whether to commence treatment. There is a <0.5/100 chance of a light reaction. If the client has not taken the medication for +5 days, the treatment can be administered. |
I've read that light sensitivity is a contraindication, but what about prescription Retin-A (Tretinoin)? Is that problematic?
Light sensitivity isn’t always a contraindication, but it’s highlighted to encourage users to 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 include completing the patch test while on oral medication, ensuring your body reacts well to light, and always applying 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 Benzoyl Peroxide (i.e., DUAC), which speed up cellular turnover, can cause dryness and shedding side effects. LED can further increase the cellular turnover and shedding. Therefore, it is best to reduce LED use during the time you are using the topical medication.