QuasarMD Handheld Red Light Device - FDA-Cleared Red Light for Skin
A clinically-cited, FDA-cleared handheld red light device for face - 20+ years of brand history in dermatology offices, now at a home-use price point.
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QUICK VERDICT
The face PBM device dermatology offices were using before "home red light" was a Shopify category. Open-air handheld design (most LED masks trap heat against your skin during sessions). FDA-cleared dual-wavelength per the manufacturer. 15+ years of clinical-citation pedigree at a $299-499 home-use price.
- Best for
- Buyers focused on face-specific photobiomodulation who want the longest-running brand pedigree in the category at the value-tier price point ($299-499). Focus areas: collagen, fine lines, skin inflammation.
- Skip if
- You want full-body PBM (Joovv Elite, Mito Red Pro 1500+), targeted recovery for joints (NovaaLab Light Pad), or mask-format coverage (Quasar MD 3D Mask or CurrentBody LED Mask cover more of the face simultaneously).
- Tier
- Mid
Quasar MD Plus is the home-use descendant of devices originally built for dermatologist offices in the 2000s. The brand has been cited in published photobiomodulation research and clinical skin-health protocols longer than most home red-light competitors have existed - Joovv launched in 2015, Bon Charge in 2018, NovaaLab in 2018. Quasar started in 2010 with a longer-running clinical pedigree.
The product is purpose-built for face-focused PBM: collagen stimulation, fine-line softening, inflammation reduction. The open-air design keeps the skin cool during sessions (most LED face masks trap heat), and the FDA-cleared dual-wavelength architecture (red + infrared) targets the dermal layer where the published collagen research lives. Sessions are 10 minutes per zone, 3-5 times per week.
Where it competes: this is a meaningfully different product than a Joovv panel or NovaaLab Light Pad. Those are systemic-PBM tools (whole-body or large-zone protocols). Quasar MD Plus is a face-specific device - the same category as Bon Charge SkinShield Pro ($499-799), CurrentBody LED Mask ($395), and Therabody TheraFace Pro ($399). At $299-499 it slots in as the value-tier option in the face-PBM category, with the longest clinical-citation lineage of any brand in the comparison.
Where it gives ground: this is not a full-body solution. If you want PBM for sleep, mood, mitochondrial work, or large-tissue recovery, a panel (Joovv) or pad (NovaaLab) is the right answer. Quasar's value is specifically face + neck + décolletage skin work.
Where Quasar wins specifically: this is a scalpel, not a Swiss Army knife. Buyers who land on Quasar's page know they're shopping face-PBM specifically - and the brand owns that focus. No multi-category bloat, no recovery claims, no whole-body marketing. For the buyer who wants the clinically-pedigreed face device at a home-use price, the alignment is exact.
Buyers focused on face-specific photobiomodulation who want the longest-running brand pedigree in the category at the value-tier price point ($299-499). Focus areas: collagen, fine lines, skin inflammation.
You want full-body PBM (Joovv Elite, Mito Red Pro 1500+), targeted recovery for joints (NovaaLab Light Pad), or mask-format coverage (Quasar MD 3D Mask or CurrentBody LED Mask cover more of the face simultaneously).
Specifications
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We’ve included this product in 2 editorial bundles - groupings of 4-7 items that work as a system.
Where this fits
Quasar MD Handheld Red Light Device (formerly MD Plus) cross-shops across several editorial surfaces on this site: the full brand catalog, the buyer-intent tags this item carries, the price band it qualifies for and the in-depth guides for its category.
Quasar MD Handheld Red Light Device (formerly MD Plus) - buyer FAQ
Is the Quasar MD Plus FDA cleared?
Yes - the Quasar MD Plus is FDA-cleared as a medical device for skin treatment. Quasar MD has held FDA clearance since the brand launched in 2010, which is the longest continuous regulatory pedigree among home red-light brands (Joovv launched 2015, Bon Charge 2018, NovaaLab 2018).
How does Quasar MD Plus compare to LED face masks like Bon Charge SkinShield?
Different form factors solving different ergonomic problems. Quasar MD Plus is a handheld, open-air device that treats the face zone-by-zone (10 min per zone, 3-5x/week) - the open-air design keeps skin cool during sessions which most LED masks fail at. Mask-format devices (Bon Charge SkinShield Pro at $499-799, FliKEZE PhotonMask Quint at $159-299, CurrentBody at $395) cover the whole face simultaneously but trap heat. For comfort over long sessions, handheld wins. For convenience and simultaneous full-face exposure, masks win.
How long has Quasar MD been making red light devices?
Quasar MD launched in 2010 - the brand has 15+ years of clinical-citation history in published photobiomodulation skin-research literature. The MD Plus is the home-use descendant of devices originally built for dermatologist offices in the 2000s. This longer pedigree is the brand's core differentiator vs newer direct-to-consumer LED brands that launched post-2018.
What wavelengths does the Quasar MD Plus emit?
The Quasar MD Plus uses dual-wavelength architecture (red + near-infrared) cleared by FDA for skin treatment. Red light (~660nm range) penetrates ~5mm and targets the dermal layer where collagen synthesis happens - this is the wavelength most published skin-research uses. Near-infrared penetrates deeper (10-30mm) and targets supporting tissue. Both are emitted simultaneously during sessions.
How often should I use the Quasar MD Plus?
Standard protocol is 10 minutes per zone, 3-5 times per week. The face is typically divided into 3-4 zones (forehead, cheeks, jawline, neck/décolletage) so a complete session runs 30-40 minutes. Most users see visible skin changes in 8-12 weeks of consistent use - collagen restructuring is a slow tissue process and short-term protocols rarely show meaningful results.