Asteatotic Eczema: How Does Light Therapy Can Help
Even though eczema is one of the most common skin diseases in the world, we often cannot fully understand whether light therapy helps with this, how it works, etc. There is a lot of information, but rarely when it is structured and written in simple language. We decided to answer the most common questions about asteatotic eczema and the effect of light therapy on it.
What is asteatotic eczema, how light therapy can help treat this disease, whether eczema treatment with phototherapy has side effects and disadvantages read this and much more in our article.
New Light Therapy For Psoriasis
January 2, 2014 by Louanna
Using light therapy to treat psoriasis is one of the oldest known ways that this skin disease was treated. In fact, sunlight was one of the first treatments that was used to help to ease the symptoms of the condition. Now, there is a new type of light therapy that is proving beneficial for psoriasis treatment.
A recent study published in the journal of Photomedicine and Laser Surgery showed that the use of red and infrared LED light therapy has shown to be very promising in treating this condition. In the study, patients used a combination of near infrared light and red light . Though considered to be a preliminary study, over a period of 4 to 5 weeks, with two 20-minute sessions every 48 hours, clearance rates during the follow up period which was 3 to 8 months later were 60 to 100 percent. All of the participants were happy with the therapy.
Inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and acne can also be managed. The noninvasive nature and almost complete absence of side effects encourage further testing in dermatology.
Although the research is relatively new regarding the use of red and infrared light therapies for psoriasis, each additional study suggests that the treatments are quite promising and offer hope of a drug-free option for sufferers of this chronic disease.
Possible Disadvantages Of Eczema Light Therapy
Cost may be a con of eczema light therapy: For insured patients, there may be a copay involved for each time you receive treatment, plus deductible considerations. Another potential drawback is that it’s time-consuming and requires many trips to a doctor’s office over several weeks, Page says. If youre driving 30 minutes to your doctors office, waiting for your appointment, taking your clothes off, standing in the booth, then putting your clothes back on and driving home, it might be too much of a time commitment for you, says Piliang. If you live close to your doctors office, it may be convenient, but if not, it might be too difficult to do this several times a week.
Other drawbacks of eczema phototherapy may include these considerations:
Burning Artificial UV light, like natural sunlight, can result in tender sunburn and even blistering. Skin may redden and itch. Though, according to NYU Langone Health, side effects to phototherapy happen infrequently and tend to go away quickly. Also worth noting: “People who have a light complexion have more tendency to burn, and dosing needs to be adjusted accordingly,” says Page.
Skin Damage Over time, age spots and other signs of aging like wrinkles may appear, says Page.
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Study : Red Light Therapy Improves Eczema And Reduces Itchiness
A 2013 research analyzed the benefits of combining red light therapy and regular eczema treatments such as immunosuppressive drugs.
The research found that adding red light therapy to the treatment equation resulted in:
- restored skin barrier
- reduced severity of skin lesions,
- reduced inflammation,
A similar study also studied how red light therapy will work with hot water baths to treat eczema. A combination of these two resulted in:
- reduced development of new lesions,
- lowered inflammation,
- reduced allergic reactions.
Light Therapy And Eczema
Atopic dermatitis and atopic eczema are extremely common â many of us have gone to the doctor with one of these conditions, seeking treatment.
This dermatitis, increasingly frequent in today’s reality, has a chronic course with flare-up phases that can cause serious personal discomfort and occur on various parts of the body. While most doctors will often provide topical creams for short-term relief, it doesn’t do justice for the long-term implications of this condition.
These conditions are characterized by inflammation of the skin that occurs with the sudden formation of dry, itchy, and red, blistering patches, especially on hands, feet, wrists, ankles, face, neck, chest, internal crease of the elbow, and backbend of the knees.
Eczema can be a very irritating and uncomfortable condition to deal with. The itching and redness are highly unpleasant and can significantly impact your quality of life. Common sense pushes us to lather on moisturizers and creams to heal the dryness however, that doesn’t always work.
But what causes these conditions? Doctors don’t actually know the reason for atopic dermatitis, but it’s believed to be related to genes and is often paired with asthma and hay fever. Atopic dermatitis is not an allergy to a particular substance however, its presence increases the likelihood of developing asthma and hay fever . Luckily, atopic dermatitis is not contagious.
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How To Use Red Light Therapy To Treat Eczema
Eczema can be very annoying to deal with at times and drastically affect ones quality of life. The visible rashes and itchiness can cause serious frustration too. Luckily, there are a few treatments you can look up to treat eczema, such as red-light therapy.
Red light therapy, or UV light, is used to treat eczema and heal the condition to some degree. The light will subdue the immune system cells and cause inflammation. When the skin comes in contact with the light, it chases away the white blood cells present underneath. This causes the inflammation to show up, thus making light therapy ideal for eczema.
Do you, too, happen to suffer from eczema and are looking for a solution to it? Stick to the end, where we discuss why and how to use red light therapy to treat eczema.
The Potential Negatives Of Using Light Therapy On Eczema
While there are a lot of great benefits to using light therapy to treat your eczema, it is important to realize that there are a few risks that are associated with treatment. Some of the risks that you should consider and discuss with your doctor include:
- Burning In some cases, artificial light, similar to what we see with natural sunlight, can cause some sunburn and blistering. You may notice that the skin reddens and itches if you use the light too long, but this is typically due to using incorrect products/usage. Those with lighter complexions are more lightly to burn and may struggle to use UV light therapy of any kind. Discuss this with your doctor before using light therapy for any condition if it is a concern.
- Skin damage For those who are not careful with how much light therapy they use, there is always the potential for a little skin damage. The skin may also develop more freckles and become wrinkled with prolonged use.
- Skin cancer There havent been any issues reported with skin cancer while using light therapy thus far , but this remains a relatively new therapy. In general, being exposed to UV light for too long can cause issues so it is something to watch for.
- PUVA The medication that you may see used in tandem with light therapy can sometimes cause nausea and headaches for some people. Also, if you do not use adequate eye protection while using light therapy, this can potentially cause cataracts.
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Red Light Therapy And Eczema: Who Should Use It
When it comes to using red light therapy for eczema management, some people are better fits than others. If you want to have a positive red light therapy and eczema before and after story, its important to make sure youre a good candidate.
Those who have targeted eczema often respond well to red light therapy. Red light therapy systems make it easy for them to address specific areas without having to expose their entire bodies to the light.
At the same time, people with widespread eczema can also stand or sit in front of large red light panels and address all the affected areas at one time. As a bonus, this saves them from having to use large amounts of creams or ointments all over their bodies, too, and can be more cost-effective.
Those who are taking certain medications may need to avoid red light therapy for eczema . This list includes like lithium, melatonin, and phenothiazine antipsychotics, as well as certain antibiotics.
Light Therapy For Eczema And Psoriasis
Eczema and psoriasis are some of the most common skin conditions, with over 30 million Americans suffering from eczema and 8 million with some form of psoriasis.
In this article, well explain the emerging research around light therapy as a potential treatment for psoriasis, eczema, and other common skin conditions.
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Which Skin Conditions Can Light Therapy Treat
Light therapy was first heralded by health professionals for its ability to stimulate cell regeneration and cell metabolism and reduce wrinkles or other signs of aging, specifically using red, near-infrared and infrared wavelengths. Blue light, at the other end of the visible spectrum, offers antibacterial action that helps treat acne. With this range of broad applications, different forms of LED light therapy can be tailored to specific skin conditions in people of all ages.
A 2018 study of LED light therapy published in the journal Lasers in Medical Science looked at the effects of LED light therapy on several hair and skin conditions. The general consensus was that light therapy represents the emerging and safest tool for the treatment of many conditions such as skin inflammatory conditions, aging, and disorders linked to hair growth.
Now, lets take a look at how red, blue, and infrared light therapy can address some specific skin conditions.
How Long And What Dosage Is A Course Of Phototherapy Treatment
A course is usually given 2-3 times a week for UVB and 2 times a week for PUVA. Both UVB and PUVA courses last on average around 12-16 weeks maybe longer for severe cases. Shorter courses may also be given. Sometimes, weekly maintenance courses are recommended for a short period after clearance. It is important that you are able to commit to a course of phototherapy as it may take some weeks before you see the benefits of treatment.
UVA and narrowband UVB treatment sessions are administered with a dose of light called joules. A joule is a unit of light energy. Your dose is individual and will depend on the colour of your skin or more accurately be determined by a baseline series of 6-10 small test doses of UV to your skin. Before you start a course of phototherapy, you will receive a series of small test doses by shining a UVB light onto small circles marked on your back or arm, which will then be read the next day. This determines the starting dose of phototherapy and establishes a minimal erythema dose for UVB and a minimal phototoxic dose for PUVA. Generally, the dose at which clearance is achieved is up to 5J/cm2 of UVB and up to 15J/cm2 for tablet PUVA. However, dosage depends on your skin type. Phototherapy needs to be tailored to the individual and very carefully administered and monitored. The number of joules you are administered will be recorded and records kept there is a maximum number of lifetime joules.
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Is Rlt At Home For Psoriasis Safe
Extensive studies that have been conducted around red light therapy didnt identify any adverse effects associated with the treatment. Therefore, getting red light exposure at home is entirely safe. With that said, we recommend you get a professional opinion before starting RLT for psoriasis. Make sure you visit the doctor and ensure that red light exposure is the most optimal course of action for treating your individual condition.
Written By Matthew CalderaMatthew Caldera is the founder and CEO of nuYOU LED, a leading provider of red light therapy devices. As a dedicated biohacker and RLT specialist, Matthew aims to make science-backed information about red light therapy and self-improvement more accessible to everyone. To achieve his goal, Matthew uses up-to-date research materials and converts them into easily digestible articles, answering frequently asked questions of those interested in the power of red light.Connect with Matthew on
How To Use Light Therapy To Treat Eczema
![Red Light Therapy at Home: The Definitive Guide [2019]](https://www.eczemainfoclub.com/wp-content/uploads/red-light-therapy-at-home-the-definitive-guide-2019.jpeg "Red Light Therapy at Home: The Definitive Guide [2019]")
Red light and infrared light therapies have shown prominent results in treating eczema. Although there are several variations in eczema, almost all of them have shown promising results with light therapy.
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The red light penetrated deep into the layers of skin at 600 to 700 nanometers range for the most efficiency. Such deep penetration helps with the reduction of inflammation caused by eczema. Once the inflammation has been reduced, you will notice significantly lesser itching and irritation on your skin.
More tests on red light therapy need to be done to determine why and how it helps with eczema. However, it has only proven helpful without any side effects when used at the right wavelength and frequency and for adequate time.
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How To Treat Eczema Naturally Using Red Light
You can use red light therapy as a powerful ally in fighting eczema naturally. While it wont cure eczema or psoriasis, red light treatments will help relieve symptoms and speed up your bodys natural healing process.
For example, applying red light to affected areas can suppress itching and even help reduce flare-ups or lesions when you have eczema. In light therapy, skin inflammation decreases, and skin cell production slows down tremendously.
Red light therapy also accelerates wound healing by improving circulation and stimulating fibroblast cells to produce an extracellular matrix, which helps form connective tissue that supports skin cells.
Because of these benefits, red light therapy is an effective treatment for other conditions like acne and rosacea.
Control The Urge To Itch
Although it is very hard to resist the temptation to itch and scratch at your flared skin, it is vital to prevent it from getting worse.
Being able to resist the itchiness can significantly reduce the chances of it getting any worse or even intensifying the itch. You will not be causing any damage either internally or to the surface of the skin.
It will also reduce the chances of contaminating the skin with bacteria and dirt, which could worsen the situation by getting infected.
When you contain the temptation to itch, you will notice that both the urge to itch and the inflammation and irritation of the skin have gone down naturally. This way, you can keep the area clean and prevent further damage.
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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 therapys 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 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.
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 dont 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 dont address the root cause of the problem. So what is the root cause of this chronic skin condition?
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How To Use Red Light Therapy For Eczema & Psoriasis
Out of all the current treatments for eczema and psoriasis, red light therapy appears to be the most promising one, especially if you want to treat these skin conditions naturally.
Red light therapy for Atopic Dermatitis is showing great promise as a scientifically-backed effective, and safe natural treatment that you can use at home anytime you need it, for as long as you need it.
In this post, youll find why red light therapy is superior to the UV light therapy commonly used to treat eczema and psoriasis, and the best light therapy home devices you can use in 2022.