Solius Targets Vitamin D Deficiency With Personalized UVB Light Therapy

Solius Labs is introducing an at-home UVB medical device that tailors sunlight therapy to individual skin profiles

Vitamin D deficiency is a serious issue throughout the U.S., with estimates putting half of the population lacking in the key nutrient. That puts the body at risk of suppressed immune health, chronic fatigue, bone and muscle weakness and mood changes.

One of the best sources of vitamin D is sunshine, and even with summer upon us, there’s no guarantee of adequate absorption as the majority of our days are spent indoors — on top of the dwindling daylight in colder seasons and climates. 

To address a gap in the market for medically-backed, targeted support, Solius Labs is launching the Solius Pro — an FDA-cleared, personalized UVB sunlight medical device.

The process begins with a skin analysis, and from there the Solius Pro system automatically calibrates a UVB dose personalized to individual skin characteristics.

In doing so, Solius is aiming to carve out a new category in wellness for UV medical devices, after its own product was cleared by the FDA for over-the-counter use.

While there are risks associated with UVB light exposure, the personalization component of the Solius Pro is made to administer safe doses according to the skin analysis. That dose is delivered weekly in five-minute sessions to exposed skin on the back — and controlled by the Solius app — spurring the natural health benefits of the sun at safer dosages. 

“Solius medical UVB light therapy and dosing technology maximize the health benefits of UVB light while nearly eliminating the risks typically associated with sun exposure,” said professor and head of dermatology at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Jan Dutz. “This represents a meaningful advancement in dermatology and medical phototherapy.”

The brand asserts that a full year of once-weekly Solius sessions is roughly equal to the same total UV radiation as five minutes of natural midday sunlight, while delivering half the total UV radiation than prescription narrow-band UVB devices.

Solius is also betting on the numerous other benefits that sunlight offers beyond vitamin D, including a boosted gut microbiome and positive impacts across mood, energy, cognition, bone health, immune function, cardiovascular health and metabolic health.

“Decades of peer-reviewed research confirm that sunlight is fundamental to human health and Vitamin D is a biomarker for UVB exposure,” said Solius CEO Chris Kiple. “Solius is the first technology to deliver the health benefits of UVB light therapy with dosing personalized to each user’s skin. We are committed to bringing clinically-proven efficacy and an unprecedented standard of safety to the UVB light therapy space.”

Solius even put the device to the test in a randomized control trial, where participants experienced an improvement in their serum vitamin D levels of 10 ng/mL without skin damage or visible tanning.

Consumers and professionals interested in trying out the device can order it online for $2,995.