FDA Clears Solius Pro, the First Over-the-Counter Home UVB Panel for Vitamin D


Launching just in time to keep you out of the summer sun’s harmful rays, personalized sunlight tech company Solius Labs’ Solius Pro is a portable light panel that sits in a brand-new category: over-the-counter phototherapy technology, which was previously limited to medical settings. The FDA even created a new product code for the device in order to clear it for use without a prescription, per a press statement. 

In the US, Solius Pro was specifically FDA-cleared to stimulate vitamin D production for people age 22 and older. 

“Solius UVB light therapy provides 12x the healthy UVB [ultraviolet B] health benefits of the sun with 99% less total UV risk,” Chris Kiple, CEO of Solius Labs, told CNET. “UVB light has been clinically shown to drive some of the body’s most important biological processes.”

This is not another SAD lamp

Solius is not like other light therapy products on the market, as they use different wavelengths in the light spectrum. “SAD lamps and red light devices use visible light and do not activate UVB-responsive biological pathways that are fundamental to health and longevity,” explained Kiple. 

The Solius Pro LED light panel is a white square-shaped device with a light array. Attached to the top of the device is a way to hang it. It's featured over a light brown gradient background.

Solius Pro can hang on a wall or doorframe to deliver your dose.

Solius

The Solius Pro skin assessment

All it takes is one light therapy session per week, lasting less than five minutes, available rain or shine. However, the amount of skin-damaging UV radiation is mitigated. The statement released stated that a full year of Solius therapy delivered once a week is the equivalent UV radiation risk as five minutes of natural midday sunlight.

Designed for home use, the $2,995 portable device measures 20 by 24 by 2.5 inches, is 7.1 pounds and has 132 UVB LEDs. It can be hung on a wall or door and plugged into a standard power outlet. Using Solius Pro’s built-in sensor, the Solius app guides the user through a skin assessment that captures skin pigmentation measurements and analyzes them with a Solius algorithm to deliver a dose of UVB light therapy. 

This personalization algorithm was created using about 10,000 skin samples from around the world, featuring a range of skin tones and pigmentation. To maintain safe, consistent dosing over time, the Solius system also incorporates skin response, therapy history, positioning data and user feedback for future sessions. 

Solius Pro folds in half for storage.

132 LEDs provide your UVB light therapy.

Solius

Where you’ll receive your dose

“Safely dosing UVB light from natural sunlight is nearly impossible,” Kiple said. “Even on sunny days, factors such as time of day, season, latitude, cloud cover, air quality, skin tone and individual UV skin sensitivity make it difficult to consistently achieve a clinically beneficial UVB dose without damaging the skin.”

Plus, there’s the difficulty of delivering the right amount of UVB to stimulate the body’s beneficial biological pathways while remaining below an individual’s threshold where sunburns and skin damage can occur. Solius’s patent-pending skin analysis system makes dosing the benefits of UVB light from the sun possible but, according to the company, does so with 50% less total UV radiation than prescription narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) devices.

Once your assessment is complete, the app will guide your session, which is typically less than five minutes and designed to be used on your back, from the waist to the neck. The app will ensure you’re wearing protective eyewear, monitor your position, track your session and progress and even prevent you from accessing the device in between sessions. 

“The user’s back provides a flat treatment surface that enables Solius to deliver a highly uniform UVB dose that ensures meaningful whole-body biological effects while keeping the face and eyes outside the therapy field,” Kiple said. 

A shirtless person looks at their phone. The Solius Pro light panel is behind them. The back is the location the device uses to deliver its dose.

You’ll get your UVB dose directed at your back, from your neck to your waist.

Solius

How to know if Solius Pro is working

The goal is to provide users with biologically beneficial wavelengths of sunlight in a controlled environment, but with less than 1% of the total UV risk from sunlight. 

Solius Pro uses a targeted UVB wavelength of 293 nanometers and concentrates 95% of its light output within the UVB action spectrum, which is associated with stimulating vitamin D production. It avoids UVA (ultraviolet A) wavelengths, which can cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer. 

When asked how users will know if Solius Pro is working, Kiple stated that “health outcomes can be tracked through objective measures such as vitamin D levels, DEXA scans [an imaging test that measures bone health and body composition], stool samples, blood pressure and validated patient-reported assessments.” 

For vitamin D production, which Solius Pro is FDA-cleared to stimulate, users can measure the impact with a baseline blood test before starting treatment and then serum 25-OH vitamin D tests after eight to 12 weeks of use, with retests every two to three months. 

During an August 2025 randomized controlled trial funded by Solius, which included 69 people divided into treatment and control groups over 21 weeks, participants saw an average increase of about 10 ng/mL in serum vitamin D levels without skin damage or visible tanning. 

“Many users report improvements in mood and energy shortly after treatment, along with better sleep, focus and overall well-being over time,” added Kiple. “Beyond vitamin D production, researchers continue to study how UVB exposure influences bone health, cardiovascular function, immune signaling, metabolism and the gut microbiome.” These topics are the focus of ongoing Solius research.

Two hands using the Solius app on a smartphone in front of the Solius Pro device.

You can keep track of your Solius Pro sessions on the connected app.

Solius

Solius Pro is not recommended for everyone

While Solius Pro is safe for most adults when it’s used as directed, Kiple acknowledged that it’s not for everyone, including people with photosensitivity disorders or a history of skin cancer. 

In the aforementioned August 2025 trial, the Solius system was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events, but 52% of participants experienced minor adverse events, such as redness and itchiness. “However, the device used in the study was the old dosing system,” said a Solius representative. “The final device, as cleared by the FDA, had no adverse events.”

Before use, it’s important to review the device’s user manual and speak to your doctor about any concerns.  

“Consistent weekly Solius sessions help maintain the sunlight-driven processes our bodies rely on,” Kiple said. “Over time, consistent Solius therapy may help address some of the physiological effects associated with insufficient sunlight exposure that often lead to increased risk of premature aging and disease.”

The cost and when it ships

Available now in the US, Solius Pro costs $2,995 plus membership. Founding members get a free lifetime membership with access for up to eight people. Otherwise, a membership is $100 per year or $10 per month.

Solius Pro is HSA/FSA eligible, but with that type of purchase, membership is sold separately in the Solius app. 

Included with the Solius Pro light panel are protective eyewear (otherwise $52), a skin measurement cone ($25), a hanging system ($100) and a 10-foot detachable power cord ($23). You also get 30 days to return your device and a one-year warranty. 

Solius Pro will start shipping in July. 





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Forza Horizon 6 has already launched on Xbox Game Pass as a day one release, making May a big month for the subscription service. Still, what Microsoft gives, it also takes away, as two phenomenal JRPGs – Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 4 Golden – will leave the service at the end of the month. 

Xbox Game Pass, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers a wide selection of games that you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC or mobile device for as little as $10 a month. And with a subscription to the higher-tiered Game Pass Ultimate ($23 a month), you can access hundreds of games, including new ones the day they’re released, each month. 

Here are the games Microsoft plans to bring to Game Pass in May. You can also check out other games the company added to the service in April, including Hades 2, and more options in our list of the best gaming subscriptions.


Forza Horizon 6

On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

Forza Horizon 6 is the latest open-world racing game from Playground Games. This time, players can speed around Japan, from the busy cities to the countryside roads. More than 550 cars are available to collect via races, seasonal events and online challenges. The game continues the arcade-style racing the series is known for, and with more car customizations, a deeper progression system and dynamic weather changes affecting road conditions. 


Dead Static Drive

On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

Dead Static Drive mixes road trip exploration, survival horror and action gameplay in a strange post-apocalyptic world filled with supernatural threats. Players travel across highways and down while scavenging supplies, upgrading vehicles and fighting bizarre creatures. The game combines tense combat with quiet exploration, creating an eerie atmosphere with retro graphics. 


Pigeon Simulator

New to Game Pass Premium. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Pigeon Simulator is a sandbox game unlike any other. As a pigeon, it’s up to the player to create as much disruption as possible in order to complete objectives, annoying pedestrians out for a walk and making use of the game’s unique physics systems. Players can fly over streets, knock over objects and find hidden secrets in this absolutely absurd game. 


Remnant 2

 On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

The soulslike subgenre is popular among gamers, and the Remnant franchise does a little something different by replacing swords with guns. In Remnant 2, players will fight off monsters and giant bosses in a world filled with secrets and loot. The sequel improves on the original by having more ways to customize your character and larger-scale battles intended for solo or cooperative play. 


Luna Abyss

On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

Luna Abyss is a fast-paced first-person shooter set in a mysterious underground colony. The sci-fi horror shooter has players descending deeper into a massive prison facility while battling enemies and learning the secrets of what happened here. The game offers stylish combat with fast movement as the story is told via the environments, which creates a tense and exciting experience built around shooting and exploration. 


Escape Simulator 

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 26.

Players work together to solve puzzles and uncover hidden clues in Escape Simulator. The cooperative escape room experience puts players in themed areas such as mysterious labs or fantasy dungeons. Each room introduces new mechanics and requires teams to work together to escape. The game’s online community can also contribute to the game by creating their own rooms with custom scenarios. 


Echo Generation 2

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on May 27.

Echo Generation 2 continues the voxel-inspired RPG series with a new adventure focused on supernatural mysteries with turn-based combat. Players explore strange towns, investigate paranormal events and battle bizarre enemies. The sequel expands on the original game’s storytelling and combat system while keeping the colorful visuals and quirky humor.


The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 27.

The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition is the complete, remastered version of the 2019 sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment. This version includes the previously released DLC, a higher level cap, better graphics, improved performance, additional animations and more improvements on the original game.  


Crashout Crew

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on May 28.

A mix of party game chaos and cooperative action, Crashout Crew throws players into unpredictable arenas filled with traps, obstacles and physics-based mayhem. Players race to complete objectives while trying to survive the hectic action. Fast matches, colorful visuals and multiplayer gameplay make it easy to play online with friends or strangers. 


Kabuto Park

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 28.

Collecting rare insects and exploring colorful outdoor environments are at the center of Kabuto Park. You have to search forests and parks to find new species while upgrading equipment to compete in bug tournaments. The cheerful art style blends with exploration and creature collection, making for a relaxing game about finding bugs. 


Final Fantasy 6 

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on June 2.

Final Fantasy 6 is not only one of the best Final Fantasy games, but it’s also one of the best games ever. First released on the SNES in 1994, the game follows a cast of characters out to save the world. This version is part of the Pixel Remaster for the older Final Fantasy 2D games that improves on the visuals, updates the audio and adds modern gameplay improvements so new and returning players can enjoy. 


Jurassic World Evolution 3

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on June 2.

Building and managing a dinosaur theme park returns in Jurassic World Evolution 3. As the park manager, you’ll have to balance guest entertainment, scientific research and park security while also dealing with those giant dinosaurs just waiting to take over the island. Expanded customized tools, a new management system and improved creature behaviors improve on the previous games while adding more depth to the simulation gameplay, giving players a taste of what running a dinosaur park could feel like. 


Watch this: Your Phone is Disgusting: Let’s Fix That


Games that are leaving the service

While Microsoft is adding the above games to Game Pass, it will also remove five games, including two amazing JRPGs: Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 4 Golden. If you want to finish either of these games before the end of the month, now is the time as these games take many hours to beat.

For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you.





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