Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a condition that over 30 million Americans suffer from.
It is characterized by red, dry, and itchy skin with no cure and can show up anywhere on the skin.
According to nationaleczema.org, one in 10 will develop some form of eczema in their lifetime.
Eczema not only causes social and physical distress to those who have it, but it's also notoriously tough to treat. Treatment for eczema as with most chronic conditions, revolves around symptom management. People diagnosed with eczema must learn to manage their symptoms by a combination of lifestyle adjustments and therapeutic trial and error.
There is not one known cause of Eczema. It is, generally, identified to be caused by a combination of immune system activation, stress, genetics, and environmental triggers.
It's most commonly observed on the hands, neck, inner elbows, ankles, knees, feet, and around the eyes but can occur anywhere on the body. Eczema can get confused with psoriasis as they have similar features.
Recently, researchers and skin health professionals are increasingly recognizing red light therapy as a safe and natural treatment to treat a variety of skin diseases, including eczema.
Red light therapy has the potential to reduce the symptoms associated with eczema, such as redness and itchiness and improve the appearance of skin rashes, as well as a decrease in inflammation.
Red light therapy works by enhancing energy production within your cells, allowing your body to employ its own natural defenses to lessen symptoms and prevent flare-ups.
In multiple laboratory studies, red light therapy has been found to be useful in the treatment of eczema; especially when used as a complimentary treatment to other more “traditional” treatments like anti-inflammatory medications or hydrotherapy and results show inflammation was reduced and skin lesions were significantly less severe.
In a 2015 study, 81 patients were followed 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.
Red Light Therapy contains no ultraviolet light, removing the risk of damage to the skin through frequent exposure.
While Red Light Therapy has amazing promise for those suffering from eczema, the benefits do not stop there.
There are multiple studies showing promise in the following areas:
- Acne;
- Cellulite;
- Loose skin;
- Wrinkles;
- Stretch marks;
- Wound and scar healing;
- Oral health;
- Pain and inflammation;
- Arthritis-related joint pain and stiffness;
- Immune health;
- Cognitive function;
- Mental health and depression;
- Vitamin D;
- Hair growth;
- Weight loss and body contouring;
- Muscle growth, athletic performance, and recovery;
- Hormone health and sex drive;
- Eye health;
- Enhanced sleep
At CAM Collaborative we offer both Red Light Therapy treatments and Infrared Light Therapy treatments. Our Red Light biohacking pod is a custom-designed private booth that bathes your entire body in red light without added heat.
The infrared light spectrum can penetrate deeper into the tissue but does produce some heat so those that are sensitive to heat have an option. We recommend both for 15-20 minutes per session to tolerance. Twice weekly is ideal for most acute and chronic conditions, and weekly or biweekly for general maintenance.
If you would like to know more about Red Light Therapy or schedule a session, please reach out to us at 501.712.3075. We would love to introduce you to the power of Red Light Therapy.