Red Light Therapy for Depression: What the Research Shows
Red light therapy for depression is a research topic, not a recognised treatment: small early studies have shone near-infrared light on the forehead with research devices, and a 2024 review found a moderate effect, but larger trials are still needed. The light treatment with guidance for seasonal depression is a different device, a bright white light box used through the eyes. Below: how the two differ, the forehead studies and their settings, medicines, bipolar disorder, epilepsy and where to get help.
Key takeaways
- Red and near-infrared light are being studied for depression, but they are not a recognised treatment for it. Cleveland Clinic, 2021
- A 2024 Frontiers in Psychiatry review pooled 11 randomised trials with 407 people and found a moderate effect on depression, though most trials were small. Ji, 2024
- In a sham-controlled pilot of 21 adults with major depression, 823 nm light on the forehead twice a week for 8 weeks, added to usual care, gave an effect size of 0.90. Cassano, 2018
- For seasonal depression, Mayo Clinic describes a 10,000 lux white light box used for 20 to 30 minutes within the first hour of waking. Mayo Clinic, 2022
- For more severe depression, NICE recommends CBT combined with an antidepressant as the first option. NICE, 2022
If you need help now: in the US, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, free and open 24 hours. 988 Lifeline Call 911 if a life is at risk. In the UK, call Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night. Samaritans Call 999 or go to A&E if you are about to harm yourself or already have. Elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
Does red light therapy for depression work?
Early research is encouraging but small, and red and near-infrared light are not yet a recognised treatment for depression. Most studies so far used research devices on the forehead under supervision, not home panels or masks.
Cleveland Clinic lists depression and seasonal affective disorder among mental health uses that still lack scientific evidence. Cleveland Clinic, 2021 The research field is called transcranial photobiomodulation: near-infrared light shone onto the skin of the forehead in short clinic sessions.
Is red light therapy the same as a SAD lamp for seasonal depression?
No: a SAD lamp is a bright white light box that works through the eyes, while red light devices shine red and near-infrared light on the skin. They are different tools for different jobs.
| Feature | Bright white light box | Red and near-infrared device |
|---|---|---|
| Light | White, UV-filtered, about 10,000 lux | Red and near-infrared wavelengths |
| How it is used | Seen by the eyes, about 16 to 24 inches away | Shone on the skin, never into the eyes |
| Typical routine | 20 to 30 minutes within the first hour of waking | Set by the device manual and the body area |
| Status for depression | Guidance for seasonal depression from Mayo Clinic and the APA | Research topic, small studies on the forehead |
| First step | Talk to your GP or doctor | Read the precautions and keep your care plan |
In a 2016 trial of 122 adults with non-seasonal depression, a 10,000 lux white box for 30 minutes soon after waking, with or without the antidepressant fluoxetine, lowered depression scores more than placebo. Lam, 2016 The combination did best: 75.9% responded, against 33.3% on placebo. The trial ran under psychiatric care.
Our SAD lamps vs red light article covers seasonal depression and the light box studies in depth.
What did the forehead near-infrared studies in major depression find?
Small early studies with research devices reported lower depression scores after near-infrared light on the forehead, and a 2024 review found a moderate pooled effect. Researchers agree that larger trials are needed.
- Schiffer, 2009: 10 people with major depression had one session of 810 nm LED light on the forehead. Depression scores fell 13.2 points at 2 weeks and 6.5 points at 4 weeks. Schiffer, 2009 It was an open pilot with no sham group for those results.
- Cassano, 2015: a sham-controlled crossover pilot used an 808 nm laser on the forehead twice a week for 3 weeks. In the 4 people analysed, scores fell from 19.75 to 13 by week 8. Cassano, 2015
- ELATED-2, 2018: 21 adults with major depression added 823 nm LED light on the forehead to their usual care, 20 to 30 minutes twice a week for 8 weeks. The effect size against sham was 0.90, which the authors call medium to large. Cassano, 2018
- Ji, 2024: a Frontiers in Psychiatry review pooled 11 randomised trials with 407 people and found a moderate effect on depression. Most trials were small. Ji, 2024
A later, larger trial, ELATED-3, gave a lower dose over 6 weeks and did not find a difference from sham; its authors think the dose and the number of sessions matter. Iosifescu, 2022 A 2016 review by researchers in the field described the approach as experimental but promising, and said large randomised trials are still needed. Cassano, 2016
Side effects were few: ELATED-2 reported no serious adverse events, and a 2025 analysis of 31 people with major depression found no rise in side effects at higher doses. Coelho, 2025
What settings did the depression light studies use?
The near-infrared studies used 808 to 1,064 nm light on the skin of the forehead, from a single session up to twice a week for 8 weeks. The bright light trial used a 10,000 lux white box, seen by the eyes, every morning.
| Study | People | Light | Where | Minutes | Sessions | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schiffer, 2009 | 10, major depression | 810 nm LED | Forehead, both sides | 4 per side | 1 | Follow-up to 4 |
| Cassano, 2015 | 4 analysed, major depression | 808 nm laser | Forehead, 4 sites | About 8 | 2 a week | 3 |
| ELATED-2, 2018 | 21, major depression | 823 nm LED | Forehead, both sides | 20 to 30 | 2 a week | 8 |
| Disner, 2016 | 51 students with raised symptoms | 1064 nm laser | Right or left forehead | About 8 | 2, 48 hours apart | Follow-up to 2 |
| Lam, 2016 (bright light) | 122, non-seasonal depression | 10,000 lux white box | Seen by the eyes | 30 | Daily | 8 |
These are research protocols with research devices, not a home routine. Kivorla's panel and mask are skin and muscle devices, and they are not used to target the brain.
Can red light therapy for mood help people without depression?
One placebo-controlled study in 40 healthy adults reported better mood ratings 2 weeks after 1064 nm laser light on the right forehead. It was a laboratory study with a research laser, so it does not describe a home routine.
The study is summarised in a 2014 review by its authors, who said this use of lasers should stay in research until more controlled studies are done. Gonzalez-Lima, 2014
A 2016 trial in 51 students with raised depression symptoms paired two sessions of 1064 nm forehead light with a computer attention training task. Disner, 2016 Students who responded to the training and had light on the right forehead improved more over 2 weeks, a pattern not seen with sham.
Anxiety has been looked at only in small early studies. In the 2009 pilot, 9 of the 10 people also had anxiety, and their anxiety scores fell 14.9 points at 2 weeks, without a sham comparison for that result. Schiffer, 2009 For anxiety or low mood that affects daily life, the NHS lets you refer yourself to talking therapies. NHS
Can red light therapy replace antidepressants or talking therapy?
No. Depression care starts with talking therapies, guided self-help, exercise and, for moderate to severe depression, antidepressants, often combined.
For less severe depression, NICE puts guided self-help, talking therapies and group exercise before antidepressants, unless the person prefers medicine. NICE, 2022 For more severe depression, its first option is CBT combined with an antidepressant.
The NHS calls exercise "one of the main treatments for mild depression". NHS
Never stop or change an antidepressant to try light. NICE says stopping usually means reducing the dose in stages over time with your prescriber, because stopping suddenly or missing doses can cause withdrawal symptoms. NICE, 2022
Can you use red light while taking antidepressants or St John's wort?
Our precautions rule out use with photosensitising medication, so anyone taking a medicine should check with their pharmacist or doctor before using the device. Some antidepressants and St John's wort are among the products that can make skin more sensitive to light.
- Amitriptyline: Cleveland Clinic says this antidepressant "can make you more sensitive to the sun" and advises against sun lamps and tanning beds. Cleveland Clinic
- St John's wort: in large doses or on the skin, it "might cause severe skin reactions after sun exposure". NCCIH, 2025
- Other photosensitisers: DermNet lists St John's wort and phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine among agents that can cause skin reactions to UV or visible light. DermNet
St John's wort also interacts with antidepressants, and the NHS says doctors do not recommend it for depression. NHS Our red light safety guide lists more medicines to check.
Is light therapy safe if you have bipolar disorder or epilepsy?
With bipolar disorder, ask your psychiatrist before adding any light routine; Mayo Clinic's caution about mania applies to bright light boxes. Epilepsy and seizures triggered by light rule out both Kivorla devices.
Mayo Clinic warns that, with a light box, increasing exposure too fast or for too long "may induce manic symptoms" in people with bipolar disorder. Mayo Clinic, 2022 For any light device, your psychiatrist, who knows your history, is the right person to ask.
Around 3% of people with epilepsy have photosensitive epilepsy, and 3 to 30 flashes per second are the common rates that trigger seizures. Epilepsy Society The panel has an optional pulse setting, so epilepsy and seizures triggered by light are a firm exclusion, as our safety guide explains.
Can you use a SAD lamp and a red light device on the same day?
Yes, because they do different jobs: the light box works through the eyes in the morning, and a red light device works on the skin. Use the light box as your doctor advises.
Timing for a red light device follows our morning or night guide: red and near-infrared light suit any time of day, while the mask's blue mode and the panel's 480 nm channel belong earlier in the day. Finish any red light session about two hours before bed, as our red light therapy for sleep article advises.
When should you get help for depression straight away?
Get help now if you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm: in the US call or text 988, or 911 if a life is at risk, and in the UK call Samaritans on 116 123, or 999. See a doctor if low mood or loss of interest lasts most of the day, nearly every day, for 2 weeks or more.
- US: the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline takes calls, texts and chats, 24 hours a day, and conversations are free and confidential. 988 Lifeline
- UK: Samaritans answer on 116 123, free, day or night. Samaritans You can also text SHOUT to 85258, or call NHS 111. NHS
- Emergency: if you are about to harm yourself or already have, the NHS says call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E; elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
- On antidepressants: if hopelessness or suicidal thoughts start or get worse after starting an antidepressant, contact your GP straight away. NHS
- Two weeks of symptoms: NIMH describes depression symptoms as lasting "most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks". NIMH
Where do Kivorla's panel and mask fit if you live with depression?
They are general wellness devices for skin and muscle comfort, not depression or mood devices, and they are not used to target the brain. If you use one for those reasons, keep these points in mind.
- Keep your care: continue your talking therapy and prescribed medicine, and make any change only with your prescriber.
- Precautions: do not use either device if pregnant, or with epilepsy, a thyroid condition or thyroid medication, photosensitising medication, or broken skin on the area. If you take any medicine, check with your pharmacist or doctor first.
- The mask: the 4-Wavelength Red Light Therapy Mask is a cordless full-face silicone shell with an eye opening and no diodes over the eyes. The red mode combines 665 nm red with 850 and 1064 nm near-infrared; the blue mode combines 460 nm blue with 850 nm. Brightness is 50, 70 or 90%, with a 5, 10 or 15 minute timer. The manual allows 10-minute sessions up to 4 times a week at high brightness, or 15-minute sessions up to 3 times a week, and never more than 20 minutes a day.
- The panel: the 9-Spectrum Red Light Therapy Panel carries 480, 590, 630, 660, 670, 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm, each dimmable from 1 to 100% with the controller. Use 10 to 15 minutes per body area, about 6 inches from a joint or 12 inches from a broad area, with at least 6 hours between 30-minute sessions.
- Eyes: wear the included panel goggles with eyes closed, never aim the panel at your face, and never look into either device. Our guide to red light therapy goggles explains why.
- Panel manual: it also rules out use while breastfeeding or preparing for pregnancy, after sunburn on the body in the past 2 weeks, for Fitzpatrick skin types V or VI, and by anyone asleep or unconscious.
Read the precautions before ordering. Standard shipping to the US, UK and Germany is free. Under our return and refund policy, returns are accepted within 30 days: an unopened device with its seals intact is refunded less a 10% restocking fee, and an opened device that is undamaged and complete is refunded less 20%.
Kivorla devices are general wellness devices, not medical devices, and are not intended to treat depression, anxiety or any mood disorder. Keep your treatment plan and speak to your doctor or prescriber before any change; if you are in crisis, call or text 988 in the US or call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK.