Can Microcurrent Cause Cancer, What the Evidence Says
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
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Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
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Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
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Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
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Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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We found no evidence that microcurrent causes cancer, and it is a very low electrical current rather than radiation, but people with active cancer are advised not to use it and should ask their oncologist first.
This article answers the common worries, such as:
- whether microcurrent causes cancer
- whether it is a form of radiation
- why active cancer is a reason not to use it
- what to do with a history of cancer
- moles and skin spots
and many more!
If you have a cancer diagnosis or history, your doctor's advice comes before anything here.
Key Points:
We found no published evidence that microcurrent causes cancer.
Microcurrent is a very low electrical current measured in microamps, not ionizing radiation like X-rays.
Esthetics training materials list active cancer as a reason not to use electrical treatments, because increased circulation and metabolism are a concern near a tumor.
Anyone with a history of cancer should get their oncologist's approval before using a facial current device.
Do not use a device over a mole or skin spot that is new, changing or bleeding, and have it checked by a dermatologist.
Does microcurrent cause cancer
We found no published evidence that microcurrent causes cancer. It has been used in medical and salon settings for decades. Its history is in our history of microcurrent.
Long term safety is covered in our long term side effects article.
Is microcurrent radiation
No. Microcurrent is a very low electrical current, measured in millionths of an amp, passed between two contact points on the skin.
It is not ionizing radiation, the type in X-rays that can damage DNA. What the units mean is in our microamps explainer.
Why active cancer is a reason not to use it
Esthetics training materials list active cancer or malignant tumors as a reason not to use electrical treatments, including microcurrent and LED. The concern is that increased circulation and cell activity could be unwanted near a tumor.
This is a precaution, not evidence that microcurrent causes cancer. Anyone in active treatment should not use a facial current device unless their oncologist approves it.
If you have a history of cancer
Ask your oncologist before starting, and tell them which device you plan to use.
If you have had surgery or radiotherapy on the face or neck, ask whether the treated area should be avoided.
If you have metal implants from surgery, these also need your doctor's clearance.
Moles and skin spots
Do not use a device over a mole or spot that is new, changing, itchy or bleeding. Have it checked by a dermatologist first.
Other reasons not to use microcurrent
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
A pacemaker or implanted device is covered in our pacemakers and implants article.
If you are cleared to use a device
Start on a low level, follow the usual technique and stop if anything feels wrong.
Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10, plus an Infuse pass, on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and they work with any water-based conductive serum.
Frequently asked questions
Can microcurrent cause cancer
We found no published evidence that it does.
Is microcurrent a form of radiation
No. It is a very low electrical current, not ionizing radiation like X-rays.
Can I use microcurrent if I have cancer
Not without your oncologist's approval. Active cancer is listed as a reason not to use electrical treatments.
Can I use microcurrent after cancer treatment
Ask your oncologist first, especially if you had surgery or radiotherapy on the face or neck.
Can I use microcurrent over moles
Avoid any mole or spot that is new or changing, and have it checked by a dermatologist.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.