Red Light Therapy for Eczema: Is it Effective?

 

Red light therapy shows promise as a treatment for eczema. This may help reduce to this troublesome and often difficult-to-treat condition.

Moderate to severe eczema is unsightly and irritating. But referring to it merely as a 'skin condition' fails to encompass how it can affect everyday life. Eczema’s physical and psychological effects make finding relief a top priority.

And while there may not be a permanent cure, there are many treatments available, including lifestyle changes, over-the-counter remedies, prescription topical and oral treatments, systemic medications, narrowband ultraviolet phototherapy, and red light therapy.

In this article, we'll focus on red light as a groundbreaking therapy that treats eczema at the cellular level. 

The BIOMAX Series panels take home treatment for health and wellness to a new level. 

 

 

The SaunaMAX Pro panels are also now available for red light therapy treatment in your home sauna. 

 

Eczema Research on Skin Treatment

Although red light therapy has not been widely studied specifically for treating eczema, thousands of studies and scientific papers have shown it to be a promising treatment for numerous conditions and disorders.

This vast body of research includes many peer-reviewed studies on the effects of red light on other chronic skin disorders, which show great promise in reducing symptoms; and more importantly, addressing the underlying causes.

 

 

During a 2018 clinical review, for example, researchers observed the results of a small number of trials related to psoriasis, an autoimmune inflammatory disease. The researchers concluded that although clinical trials are still small in number, red light therapy shows promise for treating psoriasis due to its deep penetration and positive effects on the body’s cells. 

An early study on 81 patients with the most common form of eczema, atopic dermatitis, found that red light therapy effectively decreased itching in 63 people with the condition and it reduced skin eruptions in 57 cases.

Below, we’ll discuss the research in more depth, and review how and why to use red light therapy for eczema from the comfort of your own home. 

 

 

Treating Eczema with Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy is a common treatment for various chronic skin conditions. It is also sometimes referred to as low-level light therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation (PBM).

Red light therapy involves exposing bare skin to wavelengths of red and/or near-infrared (NIR) light to promote healing at the cellular level. The term 'red light therapy' is often used as an umbrella term for both red and NIR light.

However, the BIOMAX panels also feature one new blue light wavelengh, for increased synergistic effects. After some recent product updates, users can now also turn on and off R+, NIR+ and blue light wavelengths, while also controlling their intensity. 

 

 

The origins of light therapy date back thousands of years to when ancient healers prescribed natural sunlight as a healing modality.

The human body is very responsive to sunlight, with reactions varying based on wavelength. 

For example, ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) light ranges from 280 to 400 nanometers (nm) and is often used to treat skin conditions. However, overdoing UV treatments can lead to skin damage and potentially skin cancer.

 

 

The key to treating with light is to isolate the most beneficial and least harmful wavelengths. According to a wide body of research, that's where red and NIR wavelengths come into play.

Red wavelengths are much longer than those of UV light. According to world-renowned red light therapy expert Dr. Michael Hamblin, red wavelengths range from about 600 to 700nm, and NIR wavelengths range from about 770 to 1200nm. 

Research has shown that the ideal range for health benefits is from 630 to 660nm (red) and from 810 to 850nm (NIR). This range is known as the “therapeutic window.”

 

 

How Red Light Therapy Can Promote Skin Repair and Regeneration

Much research, including a study cited in this 2019 paper, suggests that red/NIR light therapy promotes skin regeneration and rejuvenation by increasing collagen and elastin synthesis. Collagen and elastin are two proteins that are responsible for healthy, supple skin. 

A 2013 study states that red light activates stem cells, the body’s 'master cells' that are essential for healing. This discovery potentially makes red light therapy an important application in dermatology.

 

 

An exciting finding from a 2017 study was that atopic dermatitis may have a genetic cause; specifically, deficiency of a skin protein called filaggrin which helps shape individual skin cells and forms part of the skin barrier. A filaggrin deficiency can mean easier access for bacteria and allowing too much moisture to escape, leading to skin dryness and itching.

Although there are currently no studies on the effects of red/NIR wavelengths on filaggrin synthesis, red light is known to stimulate the synthesis of other skin proteins. This holds promise for future studies in which red light could potentially be used to restore a healthy skin barrier.

 

 

How Red Light Therapy Promotes Cellular Metabolism

Numerous studies have shown that red/NIR light stimulates mitochondria, which are tiny organelles inside cells that produce fuel known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). One of those, a landmark study co-authored by Hamblin, revealed that with the application of red/NIR light to the skin, “a cascade of events occur in the mitochondria, leading to biostimulation of various processes.”

When cells can't produce enough ATP, it can lead to a condition called mitochondrial dysfunction, which often contributes to chronic diseases. 

In contrast, cells that can efficiently convert raw materials into fuel are better able to perform their specialized functions. This enables cells to fend off bacterial infections that contribute to rashes and other eczema symptoms. 

 

 

How Red Light Therapy Boosts the Immune System

A strong immune system can fight off bacteria that can cause numerous disorders, including eczema. For those who suffer from autoimmune disorders, however, the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy tissue, which can lead to cell death. 

During a 2009 study, researchers from the United States and China found that LLLT can reduce premature cell death. As a result, more cells are available to 'educate' immune cells in the thymus and bone marrow, effectively teaching immune cells to differentiate between the 'self' and foreign bodies. This study finding means that red light therapy may potentially help treat autoimmune disorders.

 

 

How Red Light Therapy Leads to Reduced Skin Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is a known cause or contributing factor in many chronic disorders. In a 2017 article published in the scientific journal AIMS Biophysics, Hamblin discusses red/NIR light therapy’s anti-inflammatory effects at length. 

Although the article does not specially mention eczema, it does mention psoriasis, which is an autoimmune skin disease that causes a buildup of dead cells (known as plaques) on the skin's surface. Both psoriasis and eczema are chronic inflammatory skin diseases.

Treatment for both psoriasis and eczema typically focuses on reducing inflammation, which is why red/NIR light therapy can be very effective. In his 2017 article, Hamblin explains that red/NIR light can “stimulate healing, relieve pain, and reduce inflammation.” Once inflammation is reduced, the body responds with better cell functioning and faster healing.

 

 

How Red Light Therapy Increases Microcirculation

Hamblin was also involved in a 2013 study that focused on red light therapy for skin. The study found that red wavelengths increase blood flow by stimulating the formation of new capillaries to improve oxygen and nutrient delivery to the skin.

Similarly, red/NIR light affects the endothelial cells (which make up capillaries) in the lymphatic system, which removes toxins and waste that could contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction.

Researchers from Genoa, Italy conducted a study in 2019 that confirmed how NIR light protects the body against inflammation-induced endothelial dysfunction.

How Red Light Can Offer Relief from Eczema Symptoms

What about fast and effective relief from incessant itching, scaly patches, and pain?

When combined with conventional treatments, red light therapy has been shown in numerous studies to have a soothing effect.

A 2013 study on mice affected with atopic dermatitis revealed that red light therapy combined with an immunosuppressive drug reduced inflammation and the severity of skin lesions, while helping to restore the skin barrier.

Combining red light treatments with hot baths also reduced the development of inflamed itchy skin, according to a 2015 study on mice specifically bred to develop skin lesions very similar to human atopic dermatitis.

More research on the effects of red/NIR light on eczema is needed. However, existing studies show promise in reducing itching and inflammation in people who suffer from the disorder.

 

 

The Problem With Typical Eczema Treatments

Current eczema treatment options focus on managing symptoms. Patients tend to respond differently to treatment regimens, so it's often worth trying multiple approaches to see which one works best. Using several methods together is often more effective than using one.

Although these treatments may relieve eczema symptoms, they are temporary solutions and don't address the underlying cause of the disorder. Some also come with serious side effects.

One of the advantages of using red light therapy is that it has little to no side effects and can also come along with a wide variety of other holistic benefits. 

Nonetheless, some of the most common treatments for eczema include the following:

 

Lifestyle changes, such as warm showers followed by a moisturizing oil or regimen.

 

Over-the-counter topical treatments, including cleansers, moisturizers, and anti-itch creams.

 

Prescription treatments, such as skin barrier creams, immunosuppressants, and intravenous biologic drugs.

 

Prescription phototherapy (typically ultraviolet light therapy). Ultraviolet (UV) light has been used to treat chronic conditions including severe eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and acne.

However, eczema phototherapy is not without risks. While UVA and UVB light therapy has some therapeutic effects, it is also known to damage DNA and can potentially lead to the development of cancer.