3 Red Light Therapy Eczema Benefits

Eczema affects millions of people worldwide.

It takes a toll not just ones physical well-being but also their mental health.

While conventional eczema treatment often provide relief, there is a growing interest in holistic approaches that delve into the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

So today, we are covering Red Light Therapy Eczema Benefits.

In this blog post, we breakdown the benefits of red light therapy as a way to manage eczema, skin conditions and skin diseases.

We’ll explore the science behind red light therapy, it’s effectiveness and guide you on if you should incorporate this holistic practice into your skincare routine.

Understanding Eczema

Eczema, a multifaceted skin condition that can also affect your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Before we jump into red light therapy, it’s important to understand what eczema is and the conventional treatment options.

A. Eczema Basics

1. What is Eczema?
   • Also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition characterized by inflammation, redness, itching, dryness and flakiness.
   • It usually occurs as flare-ups impacting ones quality of life.
2. Different Types of Eczema
   • Make sure you distinguish between various types, including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis with your family doctor
   • Each type may have distinct triggers and manifestations, influencing treatment approaches.
3. Common Symptoms of eczema
   • Common symptoms are dry skin, red patches, skin lesions, redness, sensitive and itchy skin
   • Due to the nature of eczema, weak immune system, you may even develop an allergic reaction to foods and harsh chemicals in everyday products
   • Common affected areas are the folds and crevices of your skin like your neck, elbows, wrists and knees

B. Conventional Treatments

While conventional treatment of eczema plays an important role at the start of your eczema journey, their limitations and possible side effects will push you to seek alternative approaches.

Let’s explore the conventional treatment options when you are first diagnosed with eczema.

1. Over the Counter Creams, Lotions, Ointments

• Purpose: These products aim to alleviate dryness and maintain skin hydration.
• Effectiveness: They provide relief by reducing itching and preventing skin cracking.
• Limitations: Frequent application is required, does not include natural healing ingredients and only address short term needs
• Considerations: Choosing fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and natural formulations to helps minimize skin irritation. Here are 5 options to get you started.

2. Steroids, Prescription Medications and Their Limitations:

• Anti-Inflammatory Action: Corticosteroids help suppress inflammation
• Effectiveness: They can provide quick relief, especially during flare-ups
• Limitations: Long term use may lead to skin thinning, discolouration, and developing topical steroid withdrawal which affects the entire body
• Strategies: Healthcare providers often prescribe the lowest potency and should recommend for you to take breaks every week or two.
  • Never use it for more than 14 days without giving your body a break.

3. Challenges and Side Effects

• Cyclical Nature: Eczema often follows a cyclical pattern of flare-ups
• Treatment Challenges: Without an effective treatment and plan, it can be hard to manage eczema using only creams and steroids
• Side Effects: Individuals may experience burning sensations, irritation
• Oral Medications: In severe eczema patients, an immunosuppressive drug may be offered
• Considerations: Systemic medications come with a higher potential of side effects, needing careful monitoring by healthcare professionals and a detailed action plan
• Long-Term Challenges: The long-term use of systemic medications raises questions about effects on overall health.

Red Light Therapy Eczema Benefits

As you seek alternative therapies, red light therapy has becoming popular due to it’s non-invasive treatment nature.

Let’s break down the potential of red light therapy in managing eczema symptoms.

A. Effectiveness of Red Light Therapy on Eczema Symptoms

1. Reducing Inflammation:
   • Cellular Modulation: In clinical trials has shown that red light therapy penetrates the skin, regulating cellular activity and reducing the inflammatory response.
2. Alleviating Itching and Discomfort:
   • Since red light therapy works to reduce and clear inflammation this in turn alleviates itching
3. Supporting Skin Healing:
   • Because red light therapy activates your skin on a cellular level, this helps your skin collagen production which then helps the wound healing process

B. Comparison with Conventional Treatments

1. Red Light Therapy vs. Topical Treatments:
   • Holistic Approach: Red light therapy targets the underlying cellular processes, offering a holistic approach compared to surface-level topical treatments.
2. Red Light Therapy vs. Steroids:
   • Minimizing Side Effects: While steroids work faster, red light therapy’s side effects are low in comparison

As we evaluate red light therapy for eczema, it becomes popular that this non-invasive option holds promise in addressing not just the symptoms but the underlying healing process for eczema.

Red Light Therapy Explained

In this section, we’ll explain the science behind red light therapy, how it helps eczema and safety considerations.

A. What is Red Light Therapy?

1. Definition and Mechanism:
   • Red light therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), involves using specific wavelengths of red light to the skin.
   • According to the Cleveland Clinic, red light therapy is thought to work by acting on the “power plant” in your body’s cells called mitochondria.
   • With more energy production, other cells can do their work more efficiently, such as repairing skin, boosting new cell growth and enhancing skin rejuvenation.
   • More specifically, certain cells absorb light wavelengths and are stimulated to work.
2. Safety Considerations:
   • At the moment, red light therapy seems to be safe enough and is not associated with any side effects when used in moderation.
   • However, the long-term safety of devices that use red light therapy is not yet known.
   • Make sure to work with a qualified red light therapy professional to ensure your dosage and action plan are safe

There are three types of light therapy for eczema that are usually prescribed:

• Broadband Ultraviolet B
• Narrowband Ultraviolet B
• UVA

B. What is ultraviolet light?

UV radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum that reaches Earth from the Sun.

UV wavelengths of light are classified as UVA, UVB or UVC. Both UVA and UVB penetrate the atmosphere while UVC has the shortest rays and is absorbed by the ozone layer according to Eczema.org.

UV rays or light is quite important for our health because it helps the body produce Vitamin D.

Research has shown that natural sunlight can help reduce symptoms of eczema.

It does so by reducing the inflammatory response in the skin.

These are the health benefits that UV light therapy is trying to replicate.

How to Use Red Light Therapy for Eczema

Now that you understand the benefits, here is how you may want to use red light therapy devices.

A. Red Light Therapy Device

1. Recommendations for Specific Devices:
   • I would recommend you visit a red light therapy clinic first before investing in an at-home use red light devices
   • This way you get to learn with a professional on the ins and outs of how to operate the device
2. Usage Guidelines and Precautions:
   • With anything, moderation is key
   • Ask your red light therapy professional on tips and tricks on how to get the most out of each session
   • You also want to establish a consistent schedule for red light therapy sessions to maximize its benefits.
3. Frequency and Duration of Session Red Light Therapy Session:
   • Tailor the frequency and duration of sessions based on the severity of your eczema and individual response to red light therapy
   • Keep track of improvements in symptoms and adjust your usage accordingly.

B. Integrating Red Light Therapy into Your Skincare Routine

1. Complementing Other Eczema Management Strategies:
   • Use red light therapy as a complementary treatment to other eczema management strategies, such as holistic nutrition
   • Discuss your goals to with your healthcare provider to ensure that it does not interfere with your current protocol
2. Incorporating Red Light Therapy with Moisturizers:
   • Apply natural moisturizers before red light therapy sessions to potentially enhance the absorption of beneficial compounds into the skin.
   • Follow up red light therapy sessions with a gentle natural moisturizer to lock in hydration.
3. Monitoring for Optimal Results:
   • Keep a journal to track progress on your skin healing journey, itching levels, and overall skin condition.
   • Regularly follow up with your healthcare practitioner to discuss progress

By following these tips, you can incorporate red light therapy into your weekly routine along with a holistic nutrition protocol.

Conclusion

Now that you have a better understanding of the red light therapy eczema benefits, you have the power to improve on your skin health journey.

You don’t have to chose between conventional or natural treatment.

You can use both to compliment each other.

When you use natural treatments in the long run, you will be impacted less on the possible side effects of conventional treatments.

If you feel stuck on the next steps to take, please book your FREE SkinVitality Call with me to see if you are the right fit for the XZMA Coaching Program.