Eczema not only causes social and physical distress to those who have it, but it's also notoriously tough to treat. Managing eczema often feels like a constant balancing act, requiring a mix of lifestyle changes and trial-and-error treatments.
What are the different types of eczema?
Learn more about seven different types of eczema:
- Atopic dermatitis.
- Contact dermatitis.
- Neurodermatitis.
- Dyshidrotic eczema.
- Nummular eczema.
- Seborrheic dermatitis.
- Stasis dermatitis.
What are the causes and triggers of Eczema?
Eczema is a complex condition with no single cause. Experts agree it's the result of a combination of immune system activation, stress, genetics, and environmental triggers. It's most commonly seen on the hands, neck, inner elbows, knees, ankles, feet, and around the eyes. Since eczema shares similarities with conditions like psoriasis, it's important to get a proper diagnosis.
Red Light Therapy can help with Eczema
Thankfully, advances in skin health research are pointing to red light therapy as a safe, non-invasive treatment for a variety of skin conditions, including eczema. Red light therapy may help reduce inflammation, itchiness, and redness, and improve the overall appearance of affected skin.
Before trying any new therapy, we always recommend consulting with a qualified healthcare professional or dermatologist. Some individuals may have overlapping skin conditions, and what works for one may not work for another.
So how exactly does red light therapy support eczema management?
How does it work?
Red light therapy works by enhancing energy production within your cells, allowing your body to employ its own natural defences to lessen symptoms and prevent flare-ups.
Here's what happens:
Red and near-infrared light penetrate the epidermis all the way to the mitochondria, the cellular organelle that produces adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body's energy source. It causes a physiological response that allows the mitochondrion to create ATP more efficiently by leveraging oxygen.
Red light therapy also helps by creating hormesis, a process in which the body is mildly stressed to elicit a response that enhances the tissues affected, leading them to respond effectively to future stress. An example of hormesis is “low-level exposure to an antibiotic may stimulate the growth of harmful bacteria that could be harmful to human patients yet theoretically beneficial to the bacteria. As a general concept, hormesis is an adaptive response that has been evolutionarily favored and is highly conserved", as described by the researcher Elyisha A. Hanniman. When it comes to eczema, hormesis may imply bolstering your body's resistance to potential stressors.
In multiple laboratory studies, red light therapy was proven useful in the treatment of eczema, notably when used in combination with other methods. Anything from anti-inflammatory medication to hydrotherapy has been explored in combination with light therapy treatments, and the results have been promising. As seen in this 2013 study, researchers noted the benefits of red light therapy in combination with an immunosuppressive drug. As a result, inflammation was reduced and skin lesions were significantly less severe.
Red Light Therapy was combined with a hot bath in the treatment of eczema in this 2015 study. The study concluded the following: “The combination therapy of LED and water bath might be used as an efficacious, safe, and steroid-free alternative therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AD.”
Researchers in this study followed 81 patients for nearly a year in one of the first human experiments examining red light therapy and eczema. The individuals were monitored based on how their symptoms progressed with the red light therapy application. Researchers were looking at eczema rashes before, during, and after participants used red light therapy. Only one 2-minute red light therapy session each week was given. With such a brief treatment, researchers discovered significant improvements in common eczema symptoms, such as a reduction in swelling, flaking, and redness. Additionally, there were "no negative effects during or after" the red light treatments, which is consistent with numerous studies on red light therapy for skin and health.
As suggested above, red light therapy improves the functioning of your organs and tissues at the cellular level, which means the advantages could be far-reaching. In studies, Red light has shown promise in treating:
Consistency is key when using red light therapy. That said, even brief, occasional treatments—like the ones in the eczema study—showed significant results. More research is underway, but the current findings are promising.
Red light therapy may not be a cure-all, but it can be a valuable part of your eczema care toolkit, especially for those looking for natural, drug-free solutions.
Before committing to a new therapeutic approach, we encourage you to first speak to a qualified healthcare practitioner or dermatologist who can provide further insights into your eczema diagnosis.
Red light therapy offers a glimmer of hope for those seeking relief from eczema. As we've delved into the fascinating world of red and NIR light, it becomes evident that their healing potential extends far beyond mere aesthetics. As we continue to unravel the intricate mechanisms at play, let us embrace the potential of this natural therapy and embark on a journey towards healthier, more radiant skin.
Check out the G4 Rouge Red Light Therapy panels - whether you're seeking to treat eczema or enhance your overall well-being, we can help you find the right item.
Sources
Avci P, Gupta A, Sadasivam M, et al. Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2013;32(1):41-52.
Elyisha A. Hanniman, Christopher J. Sinal, in Encyclopedia of Toxicology (Second Edition), 2005
Kim CH, Cheong KA, Lim WS, Park HM, Lee AY. Effects of low-dose light-emitting-diode therapy in combination with water bath for atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2016 Jan;32(1):34-43. doi: 10.1111/phpp.12220. Epub 2015 Nov 6. PMID: 26479265.
Kim CH, Cheong KA, Lee AY. 850nm light-emitting-diode phototherapy plus low-dose tacrolimus (FK-506) as combination therapy in the treatment of Dermatophagoides farinae-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. J Dermatol Sci. 2013 Nov;72(2):142-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2013.06.002. Epub 2013 Jun 12. PMID: 23810774.
Morita H, Kohno J, Hori M, Kitano Y. Clinical application of low reactive level laser therapy (LLLT) for atopic dermatitis. Keio J Med. 1993 Dec;42(4):174-6. doi: 10.2302/kjm.42.174. PMID: 7907380.
Morita H, Kohno J. et al. Clinical Application of GaAlAs 830 nm Diode Laser for Atopic Dermatitis. Laser Therapy. 1993 vol 5.
Seung-Joo Jekal, Mi-Suk Park, Dae-Jung Kim, The Combined Effects of Curcumin Administration and 630 nm LED Phototherapy against DNCB-induced Atopic Dermatitis-like Skin Lesions in BALB/c Mice, The Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science, 10.15324/kjcls.2017.49.2.150, 49, 2, (150-160), (2017).