No. It’s not that simple. The Fluo device is designed to deliver a calculated dosage of visible light with a view to generate a biochemical response that is effective at managing allergic rhinitis. Through our research, we believe that we have identified the therapeutic window to curtail your immune system’s response to allergens. As for flashlights, they deliver a broad basket of light in a totally different spectrum that would be effective for lighting the way but not so much for your allergies.

No side effects were observed in our proof-of-concept study. It is well recognized that the application of red and near-infrared light with the appropriate parameters can promote wound healing, reduce swelling and inflammation, and relieve pain. Safety and the absence of side effects was also confirmed by numerous studies looking into the application of visible light to diverse medical indications. Source: A pilot study into the effect of low-level laser therapy in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice Informa health care. Naghdi S, Ansari NN, Fathali M, Bartley J, Varedi M, Honarpishe R. (2013). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23521568 Neurological and psychological applications of transcranial lasers and LEDs. Julio C. Rojas, F. Gonzalez-Lima. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23806754

Photobiomodulation therapy is the use of red and near-infrared light for therapeutic applications. It is well recognized that the application of red and near-infrared light with the appropriate parameters can promote wound healing, reduce swelling and inflammation, and relieve pain. Safety and the absence of side effects was also confirmed by numerous studies looking into the application of visible light to diverse medical indications. Source: A pilot study into the effect of low-level laser therapy in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice Informa health care. Naghdi S, Ansari NN, Fathali M, Bartley J, Varedi M, Honarpishe R. (2013). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23521568

The Fluo device is not yet FDA approved and is not available for sale in the United States.

TThe Fluo device is a Class II medical device regulated by the FDA. Since we intend to make medical claims relating to how the Fluo can temporarily provide relief and reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, we must provide clinical evidence supporting these claims in conformity with the rigorous rules and protocols established by the FDA. Since there is no other medical device with similar indications that has been cleared by the FDA our approval process must follow a de novo pathway. The Fluo device is not yet FDA approved and is not available for sale in the United States.

Source: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/overview-device-regulation/classify-your-medical-device

No. The Fluo does not use ultraviolet (UV) light or blue light. UV light has been deemed dangerous for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Moreover, the light sources used by the Fluo device are not capable of producing UV light.

Several studies have demonstrated that allergy seasons are in fact getting longer and more intense due to global warming. A 2014 study by Yong Zhang (link below) showed that climate change is impacting pollen levels by making the pollen season longer, that the annual total of daily airborne pollen counts increased 46% since the ‘90s, and that pollen count is expected to rise in the future.

Source: Allergenic pollen season variations in the past two decades under changing climate in the United States - https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12755

With seasonal allergies, symptoms appear at certain periods of the year. These seasonal allergies include hay fever in the spring, ragweed in late summer, and, for those living in the Southwest, mountain cedar in December. Perennial allergy sufferers, on the other hand, will experience chronic and persistent symptoms intermittently throughout the year. Seasonal allergens include grass, ragweed and tree pollen. Perennial allergens include dust mites, mold, pet hair or dander, and some insects, particularly cockroaches. The allergens that trigger the allergic response may differ, but they will elicit similar responses and generate similar symptoms. A recent study showed that up to 80% of allergic rhinitis have a mixed form of seasonal and perennial rhinitis, and further suggests that the traditional classifications between seasonal and perennial rhinitis may need to be revisited to reflect modern day realities. New definitions of persistent and intermittent allergic rhinitis were recently proposed.

Source: Seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis: is this classification adherent to real life? Allergy. 2005 Jul;60(7):882-7. Ciprandi G. et. al. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15932377

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology address this question in the Ask an Expert section of their website:

https://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/antihistamines-weight-gain.

The AAAAI expert stated that it has long been known that the administration of antihistamines can cause weight gain, and there are many postulations as to why this occurs. It is noted that, although it is not unlikely that some antihistamines may be more potent than others in this regard, the effect appears to be associated to the whole category of antihistamines rather than a specific brand.

The expert further directs the reader to the Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a study published in the journal Obesity. The study found an association in prescription H1 antihistamine use and an increased risk of obesity in U.S. adults over the age of 18. The study further analyzed the use of over-the-counter antihistamines and their effect on weight gain.

The study concluded that because H1 antihistamines are increasingly accessible as over the counter remedies, they may be contributing to weight gain and increased development of metabolic syndrome. Although causation cannot be attributed to prescription H1 antihistamine use only based on this cross‐sectional analysis, the authors stressed that it is imperative to explore the relationship between increased antihistamine use, obesity, and underlying risk factors.

Source: Association of Prescription H1 Antihistamine Use With Obesity: Results From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Joseph Ratliff et. al., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3221329/

Several studies indicate that allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common comorbidity (i.e. the simultaneous presence of two conditions in a patient) of asthma that contributes to asthma severity. Over 80% of asthmatics have AR, however the condition is frequently underdiagnosed.

AR is a highly prevalent condition, affecting 10-30 % of adults and up to 40 % of children. The studies also underscore that AR has been associated with both increased risk of asthma development and asthma severity, although the exact mechanisms underlying these relationships have yet to be fully explained.

Source: Allergic rhinitis: the “Ghost Diagnosis” in patients with asthma. Maureen Egan and Supinda Bunyavanich - https://www.news-medical.net/?tag=/Allergic-Rhinitis&page=3

Several studies have consistently underscored the fact that most children with ADHD displayed symptoms and skin prick test results consistent with allergic rhinitis.

Brawley et al (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2004 Jun; 92(6):663-7) concluded that: "Nasal obstruction and other symptoms of allergic rhinitis could explain some of the cognitive patterns observed in ADHD, which might result from sleep disturbance known to occur with allergic rhinitis. Therefore, evaluation and treatment of allergic rhinitis could benefit patients with ADHD."

However, a definite connection between seasonal allergies and ADHD has yet to be established. The research is in no way conclusive or definitive. "More research needs to be done to investigate the correlation between allergies and conditions like ADHD.”

Source: Prevalence of allergic rhinitis in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a population-based study. Chou et. al. - Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013 May;22(5):301-7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23274480

Good question.

The application of low-dose light for clinical therapy developed in 1968 has evolved as scientist have gained a better understanding of the mechanism of light applied to tissues and organisms and the stimulatory and inhibitory responses different parameters can elicit.

Over the years, the specialized field of “laser biostimulation” has been identified by many names including low-level laser therapy (“LLLT”), low-level light therapy, low-intensity laser irradiation, low-reactive laser therapy, cold laser, nonthermal laser, soft laser, biostimulation laser, photobiomodulation laser, photobiostimulation or even light-emitting diode (LED) therapy and organic LED therapy.

This lack of consistency and consensus on terminology and technology led to the nomenclature consensus initiative championed by the North American Association for Light Therapy and the World Association for Laser Therapy in September 2014. Their efforts led to the term “photobiomodulation therapy” being added to the MeSH database (MeSH - Medical Subject Headings term contained in the National Library of Medicine's controlled vocabulary thesaurus).

It is understood that photobiomodulation therapy is a form of light therapy that uses light sources in the visible and infrared spectrum in a nonthermal process to elicit photophysical and photochemical events. This process generates beneficial therapeutic outcomes including alleviation of pain or inflammation, immunomodulation, and promotion of wound healing and tissue regeneration.

Photobiomodulation does not generally increase tissue temperature because the power density used is much smaller than for phototherapy applications that create thermal responses or from surgical lasers which can cut, ablate and coagulate biological tissues due to a photothermal effect.

Source: Low-Level Light/Laser Therapy Versus Photobiomodulation Therapy Juanita J. Anders, PhD et. al. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4390214/

Current pharmacotherapies available for allergy sufferers include:

• Second-generation antihistamines (with claims of non-sedation) are usually preferable to avoid sedation and other adverse effects associated with the older first-generation antihistamines. The second-generation oral antihistamines currently available in the U.S. are cetirizine, levocetirizine, desloratadine, fexofenadine, and loratadine. A limited number of studies comparing these agents suggest no major differences in efficacy. While antihistamines dominate the market as the modality of choice due to convenience, they have side effects including drowsiness, headaches and fever.
• Ocular antihistamine drops (for eye symptoms), intranasal antihistamine sprays, intranasal cromolyn, intranasal anticholinergic sprays, and short courses of oral corticosteroids (reserved for severe, acute episodes only) also provide relief. All are efficacious in controlling symptoms of allergic rhinitis (i.e, sneezing, rhinorrhea, itching) but do not significantly improve nasal congestion. For this reason, some second-generation antihistamines may contain a decongestant.
• Immunotherapy (desensitization). An important body of clinical research has established the effectiveness of high-dose allergy shots in reducing symptoms and medication requirements. Success rates have been demonstrated to be as high as 80-90% for certain allergens. However, it is a long-term process: noticeable improvement is often not observed for 6-12 months, and, if helpful, therapy must be continued for 3 to 5 years. Immunotherapy is not without risk because severe systemic allergic reactions can sometimes occur. A number of potential contraindications to immunotherapy need to be considered. Immunotherapy should only be performed by individuals who have been appropriately trained.
• Intranasal corticosteroids. While efficacious, cortisone is not convenient and has serious side effects - nosebleeds, and potential systemic issues from long-term use. It can take up to two weeks to show improvement. Source: Review: Side Effects of Some Commonly Used Allergy Medications (Decongestants, Anti-Leukotriene Agents, Antihistamines, Steroids, and Zinc) and Their Safety in Pregnancy Michael Malone1* and Tara M Kennedy2 Int J Aller Medications 2017, 3:024 https://clinmedjournals.org/articles/ijam/international-journal-of-allergy-medications-ijam-3-024.php?jid=ijam

There are a number of telltale signs that you have allergies, and these include experiencing itchiness of the eyes, nose, and throat, particularly if you have a history of seasonal allergies. Another sign is that allergy medications aren’t going to get the job done if you have the flu, a cold, or the novel coronavirus. However, you should not discount your symptoms just because you suffer from seasonal allergies. A fever, fatigue and the sudden loss of smell and taste are not symptoms that are often present with allergies — if you’re experiencing these things and you’re worried, call your primary-care doctor.