The InfraBeam pen: the ad’s claims, checked

What the advert says, and what the record says.

In October 2026 a Facebook advert from “PrimePath Solutions” led to a page marked “Advertorial” selling a red-light pen called InfraBeam (article.buyinfrabeam.com). We read it on 2026-10-24. Its claims, in its own words, and what we found:

“NASA’s Arthritis Pain-Erasing Miracle Pen”

NASA did fund research into medical uses of LED light: between 1995 and 2003, eight NASA small-business contracts paid for work that began as plant-growth lighting for the Space Shuttle and went on to wound healing in rats and to mouth sores caused by cancer treatment (NASA Spinoff). That work produced a different device from a different company. We found nothing linking NASA to this pen.

“even bone up to 2 inches beneath your skin”

How far light gets into the body depends on its wavelength, beam, skin pigment and the tissue in the way; near-infrared travels further than visible red (a 2024 measurement in people). The ad gives no wavelength and no power, so there is nothing to check the 2-inch figure against, and we found no study of this device.

“Immediate Relief … with just a few minutes of use each day”

The trials in which light eased knee arthritis pain gave clinic-laser treatments over weeks, and the largest effect showed up two to four weeks after treatment ended. None measured relief within minutes, and none tested a pen.

“Safe for all ages, including pets, with no harmful side effects”

The knee trials reported no adverse events — in adults, with clinic lasers. We found no study of this device in children or in animals. Whatever the device, do not shine bright light into eyes.

“promotes youthful skin by boosting collagen”

One randomised trial found better skin texture and collagen density after 30 full-face sessions with large light panels. That is a different device, dose and area from a pen.

FDA

We found no FDA clearance (510(k)) and no device listing under the name InfraBeam or PrimePath (FDA databases, searched 2026-10-24). A device can be cleared under another name; the ad names none.

Red light therapy · evidence checked 2026-10-24

The grades

Grades are calculated from the studies listed, by fixed rules.

Red or near-infrared light from a clinic laser eases knee arthritis painEstablished
Clinic lasers at measured doses, applied to the knee, over weeks. The 2019 review found pain fell more than with placebo at 4–8 J per spot (785–860 nm, near-infrared — not visible red); the 2024 review agreed but rated the certainty "very low"; the older Cochrane review found conflicting trials. Major arthritis guidelines did not recommend it as of 2019.
The InfraBeam pen erases arthritis pain (“NASA’s Arthritis Pain-Erasing Miracle Pen”)No real evidence
No trial of this device. The advert states no wavelength and no power output, so it cannot be matched to the doses the trials used. We found no FDA clearance or listing under its name (searched 2026-10-24).