What to Do If Your Skin Feels Uncomfortably Hot During Red Light Therapy

Created on August 12, 2026 Written by Evelyn Reed, M.S.

Stop the session if the heat feels uncomfortable. Do not try to push through a burning or painful sensation.

If you think the area may have been burned or injured by heat, cool it under cool running water for 15--30 minutes, or until the pain improves. Do not apply creams, oils, butter, or ice directly to the skin. These steps are first aid for a suspected burn or heat injury; they do not determine what caused the discomfort.

Take These Steps Right Away

1. End the session immediately. Move away from the device and do not continue treatment on the affected area.

2. Cool the skin gently if you suspect a burn or heat injury. Hold the area under cool running water for 15--30 minutes, or until it feels less painful. If running water is not available, cool bottled water can be used. The NHS burn and scald first-aid guidance supports this approach.

3. Remove nearby loose clothing or jewellery. Take off items close to the affected skin while cooling the area, if they are not stuck to it. Do not pull away anything adhered to the skin.

4. Do not apply household remedies. Avoid creams, oils, butter, and similar products on a suspected burn or scald. Do not put ice directly on the skin.

5. Pause further sessions. Do not restart treatment while the area remains painful, hot, blistered, or otherwise concerning.

Do Not Ignore Blisters or Significant Pain

Blistering, substantial pain, or skin changes after a session should not be treated as routine discomfort. Do not burst blisters if they appear.

Seek urgent clinical advice if you believe you may have a burn or heat injury and are unsure what to do. Emergency assessment is appropriate for a suspected burn that is:

• Very large or deep
• On the face, genitals, or buttocks
• Related to electricity or chemicals

These are general burn-triage thresholds and do not establish that a red light therapy device caused the injury.

Check Before You Resume Treatment

Before another session, wait until symptoms have resolved and review your model-specific instructions and warnings, including how distance and session length affect exposure. Do not alter the device, its wiring, emitters, or safety features.

If the device seems damaged or behaves abnormally, stop using it and contact BestQool support. For persistent, severe, blistering, spreading, or otherwise concerning skin or eye symptoms, seek clinical advice.

Discomfort is a reason to pause, not persevere.