Red Light Therapy & Eczema​

Eczema & Current Treatment Limitations

There are many different types of eczema, including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis and stasis dermatitis. Eczema can affect men and women of any age, and is also common in children. Even though there are many different kinds of eczema, they all share similar symptoms: redness, irritation and dry patches on the skin that can be incredibly itchy and uncomfortable. While many treatments are available to help treat the symptoms of eczema, they don’t treat the root cause of the problem.

Most physicians recommend an anti-itch cream or prescription medication such as injections or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory – but currently there is still no cure. The concern for those with eczema, is itchy and dry patches of skin that create discomfort, irritation, and pain. While many treatments are available for alleviating symptoms of eczema, most don’t address the root cause of the problem. So what is the root cause of this chronic skin condition?

Beneath the skin: Understanding the Root Cause of Eczema

So what is the root cause of eczema? Why does it impact so many people and children? Understanding the root cause will help you understand your treatment options (either for yourself or your child).

Simply put, people get eczema usually because they have a damaged skin barrier. This can happen for a variety of different reasons (allergens, certain food, irritants, stress, weather, etc.). In all cases of eczema however, the damaged skin barrier means that their skin can’t lock in moisture like it properly should, while also protecting them from the outside world.

Your skin barrier is made up of a protein called filaggrin, as well as lipids that lock in moisture. If your skin barrier is damaged, then moisture can escape from inside your skin and irritants can come in. This creates a vicious cycle where your skin is dry and irritated, so you scratch it, which damages your skin barrier even more. This makes your eczema (or your child’s) worse and worse over time.

The problem with most eczema treatments is that they only address one part of the problem. For example, many topical treatments only address symptoms like itchiness and dryness. The truth is that these are just symptoms of a bigger condition – dry skin caused by a damaged skin barrier. An itchy rash on its own is not the cause of eczema – it is just one symptom of an underlying problem.

Using red light therapy devices is proposed to be an effective treatment option for people who suffer from eczema because it helps to heal the skin barrier from within. When the skin barrier is functioning properly, your skin will be better able to protect you from irritants and allergens that trigger symptoms.

How Red Light Therapy Can Improve Overall Skin Health & Chronic Conditions

Red light therapy works by using a wavelength of light that penetrates the skin and stimulates healing from within. Red light is absorbed by cells in your body which then promote increased blood flow and collagen production to repair the damage caused by eczema.

Red light therapy has been shown to help with a variety of inflammatory conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and acne. Inflammation is a common link between these conditions – red light therapy works by reducing inflammation through increased blood flow and cell regeneration.

In addition to the anti-inflammatory properties of red light therapy, another benefit for people with eczema is that red light therapy can repair the skin barrier. Using red light therapy is proposed to be an effective treatment option for people who suffer from eczema because it helps to heal the skin barrier from within. The skin barrier is important for preventing moisture loss and keeping irritants out of your body. When the skin barrier is damaged or compromised, people with eczema may experience flare ups. Red light therapy is believed to help stimulate collagen production so your skin barrier can heal from within.

Since red light therapy is natural, it does not have the same side effects as most creams, lotions and medications. For example, steroid creams can cause thinning of your skin over time and also create a dependency, where you keep needing more steroids to achieve the same effect.

What Does the Science Say About Red Light Therapy & Eczema?

Although in it’s early stages, the research of red light therapy and eczema is promising. The original research on red light therapy for eczema was conducted by Dr. Michael R. Hamblin from Harvard Medical School. In his study, Dr. Hamblin found that near-infrared light therapy penetrates the skin and increases the level of antioxidants, which are molecules that neutralize free radicals, helping to reduce oxidative stress on the body and prevent cell damage.

Red light therapy has been shown in several studies to be effective in treating eczema, a condition characterized by itchy, inflamed patches of skin. A 2013 study found that red light therapy helped improve eczema symptoms better than traditional treatments involving wet wraps and emollients alone [2]. In the study, 22 people with eczema were treated with red light therapy three times weekly for four weeks. Researchers found that those who had red light therapy had improved skin texture, hydration and elasticity compared with those who didn’t have red light therapy.

Red light therapy can also be used to help reduce inflammation associated with eczema. A 2018 review of existing studies on red light therapy for inflammatory disorders noted that the therapy was found to reduce inflammation in individuals with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions [3]. The researchers concluded that red light therapy may be useful as a treatment for inflammatory disorders like eczema because of its anti-inflammatory properties.