Red Light Therapy for Eczema: What the Research Shows
Red light therapy for eczema is at an early stage of research: small studies report less itch and lab studies report faster skin barrier recovery, mostly with 830 nm near-infrared and red light at 630 to 660 nm. It is not the light therapy dermatologists prescribe for eczema, which is ultraviolet, and red and near-infrared devices emit no UV. Below: UV and red light side by side, the studies and their doses, hands and face, when not to use light, and how to start gently.
Key takeaways
- Clinical light therapy for eczema is ultraviolet, mostly narrowband UVB at 311 to 312 nm, and red and near-infrared devices emit no ultraviolet. DermNet
- A 2021 Cochrane review of 32 trials found narrowband UVB may improve eczema severity and itch, and it did not cover red or near-infrared light. Cochrane, 2021
- In an early report from Japan, itch decreased in 63 of 81 people with atopic dermatitis (79%) after 830 nm laser light. Laser Therapy, 1993
- In a 2024 sham-controlled trial, one 6-minute session of 640 nm red light lowered histamine-induced itch by 13.9 points on a 100-point scale. PLoS ONE, 2024
- Light should only go on intact skin, so wait until cracked or weeping eczema has closed, and keep using your prescribed treatment. Kivorla precautions
Is red light therapy the same as the light therapy dermatologists use for eczema?
No. Dermatology phototherapy for eczema uses ultraviolet light, mostly narrowband UVB, while red light sits at about 630 to 670 nm and near-infrared at about 800 to 1,100 nm, with no UV at all.
Narrowband UVB works at 311 to 312 nm. It is usually given three times a week, at least 24 hours apart, with sessions starting at 5 minutes or less. DermNet In hospital the whole body stands in a chamber, for as little as 5 to 10 minutes, two or three times a week. NYU Langone Health Red and near-infrared are longer wavelengths that act through photobiomodulation, a different process, as explained in infrared vs red light therapy.
| UV phototherapy (narrowband UVB) | Red and near-infrared light | |
|---|---|---|
| Wavelength | 311 to 313 nm | About 630 to 670 nm red; about 800 to 1,100 nm near-infrared |
| Ultraviolet | Yes | None |
| Where it is given | Clinic, or a prescribed home unit | Clinics and home devices |
| Typical schedule | 2 or 3 sessions a week | In studies: one session, or twice a week for up to 8 weeks |
| Evidence in eczema | Cochrane review, low certainty; conditional recommendation in the 2023 US guideline | Early human reports, a sham-controlled itch trial, animal studies |
| Main cautions | Burning, skin ageing, higher skin cancer risk with long courses | Warmth, irritation; not for broken skin |
What does UV light therapy achieve for eczema?
It may improve eczema severity and itch. A 2021 Cochrane review reached that view but rated the evidence low certainty, because each comparison rested on few, small trials.
The review pooled 32 trials with 1,219 people. Against placebo over 12 weeks, people on narrowband UVB were 1.72 times as likely to report reduced itch, in a trial of 40 people. Cochrane, 2021 The American Academy of Dermatology's 2023 guideline states: "For adults with AD, we conditionally recommend phototherapy." It is for eczema that creams have not controlled, under a qualified clinician. J Am Acad Dermatol, 2023
Improvement may take one to two months, and a trial usually runs three to six months. National Eczema Association The long-term risks of UV are skin ageing and a higher skin cancer risk. DermNet Red and near-infrared light have their own, separate evidence.
What has red and near-infrared light shown in people with eczema?
The human eczema reports come from one Japanese research group that used 830 nm near-infrared laser light. In 81 people with atopic dermatitis, itch decreased in 79% and the rash improved in 71%.
No side effects were reported, and markers of immune activity on the outer skin cells fell. Laser Therapy, 1993 A second report from the group, with 112 patients, found itch decreased in 71% and eruptions improved in 62%. Keio J Med, 1993 The patients probably overlap, and neither report describes a comparison group, so these are early findings from one team.
In mice with eczema-like skin, LEDs at 415, 525, 660 and 830 nm were given at 10 J/cm², twice a week for 2 weeks. 830 nm significantly reduced ear thickness. Both 660 and 830 nm reduced mast cells, the immune cells involved in allergy and itch. The authors concluded that "longer wavelengths can improve AD-like skin lesions". Annals of Dermatology, 2017
| Study | Who | Light | Dose and distance | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morita 1993 | 81 people with atopic dermatitis | 830 nm laser | Not in the abstract | Not in the abstract |
| Lang-Illievich 2024 | 17 volunteers, induced itch | 640 nm, pulsed 2.5 Hz | 175 mW/cm², 7 cm, 6 minutes | One session |
| Sonbol 2020 | 30 adults, sensitive facial skin | 630 nm LED | 7 J/cm², 10 cm, 3 minutes | Twice a week, up to 8 weeks |
| Cho 2017 | Mice, eczema-like skin | 415 to 830 nm LED | 10 J/cm² | Twice a week, 2 weeks |
| Keemss 2016 | 20 people, mild to moderate eczema | 453 nm blue LED | Not in the abstract | 3 times a week, 4 weeks |
| Narrowband UVB | Clinic standard | 311 to 313 nm UV | Starts at 5 minutes or less | 2 or 3 times a week |
Does red light therapy help eczema itch?
Early evidence says it can ease some kinds of itch. A 2024 sham-controlled trial found one session of 640 nm red light reduced histamine itch, and a pilot in sensitive facial skin saw itch fall from 5.5 to 1.3 out of 10.
The 2024 trial was double-blind and randomised: 17 healthy volunteers had light on one side of the body and a sham on the other, then itch was triggered. With histamine, itch was 13.9 points lower than sham on a 0 to 100 scale. Skin temperature did not differ from sham, so warmth does not explain it. Itch from cowhage, a plant that works without histamine, did not change. PLoS ONE, 2024 Eczema itch is thought to run largely through non-histamine pathways, so trials in eczema itch are the next step.
The facial pilot treated 30 adults with easily irritated skin but no skin disease, using 630 nm LED light at 7 J/cm² twice a week. 28 of 30 reached at least a 60% drop in their sensitive-skin score, and itch was 0.9 out of 10 two months later. Frontiers in Medicine, 2020 There was no control group, and two people reacted to nickel in the goggles.
Can red light help repair the eczema skin barrier?
Laboratory studies point that way. Red light sped up barrier recovery in pig skin, and red and 830 nm LED light lowered water loss through the skin in mice with eczema-like lesions.
Eczema skin leaks water, measured as transepidermal water loss. In pig skin with a damaged barrier, red light at 40 mW/cm² for more than 10 minutes made the barrier recover faster, while blue and purple light did not. PLoS ONE, 2019 In mice, one week of red or 830 nm LED light lowered eczema scores, water loss and inflammatory signals compared with untreated mice. Asthma and Allergy, 2011 These show a mechanism, not a result in people. Daily barrier care stays with emollients, used "at least 2 times a day". NHS
Is blue light better than red light for eczema?
Blue light at 453 nm has the one small randomised trial in people with eczema. Treated patches improved slightly more than matching untreated patches over 4 weeks.
In that trial, 20 people had one patch treated 3 times a week and a matching patch left alone. The local severity score fell by 1.9 on the treated side and 1.3 on the untreated side, with no adverse events. Dermatology, 2016 In 36 adults with severe eczema, full-body 400 to 500 nm light cut severity scores by 54% at 6 months, in a clinic study without a control group. PLoS ONE, 2011
Our blue light therapy guide notes mild dryness in up to about one in ten users of home blue devices, which matters for dry eczema skin. The two colours have different evidence rather than one being better: red and near-infrared for itch and barrier signals, blue for a small trial on patches.
Can you use red light therapy on hand eczema or eczema on the face?
On the hands, use light only where the skin is intact, because cracked fingertips and splits count as broken skin. On the face, the mask's eye cutout keeps diodes away from the eyelids, and the panel can reach eczema on the neck.
Chronic hand dermatitis affects an estimated 10 to 15% of people. Phototherapy is a second-line option for stubborn cases, meaning UV units built for hands and feet, and sweating under gloves makes it worse. DermNet Use the panel for hands, not the mask. Our red light therapy for hands and feet guide uses about 6 inches for joints; for eczema-prone skin, start at 12 inches so the hands stay cool.
The mask is a full-face shell with one eye opening and no diodes over the eyes, so eyelid skin is not lit directly. It does not cover the jaw or neck, where the panel is the device that reaches.
Can you use red light on weeping, cracked or infected eczema?
No. Broken skin, an open wound or a skin injury on the treatment area is on our do-not-use list, so wait until the skin is intact.
The NHS says to get an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111 if eczema is blistered, crusty, leaking fluid, has pus-filled spots, is painful, swollen or hot, or you feel unwell. These can be signs of infected eczema or eczema herpeticum. NHS Our guide to whether red light therapy is safe also lists active infections. During a flare, the prescribed creams come first.
Can red light therapy make eczema worse?
It can if sessions get warm, because heat and sweat are eczema triggers. Near-infrared warms the skin, so keep sessions cool and short, and stop if itch rises.
The NHS notes that heat can increase itching. The National Eczema Association lists extreme heat, humidity and sweat among triggers. National Eczema Association Our precautions say to stop using the device if you notice irritation and ask a doctor.
- Children: eczema is most common in young children, but Kivorla devices are for adults. Mayo Clinic notes clinical light therapy is not given to infants.
- Darker skin: eczema can look purple, grey or darker brown on brown and black skin, according to the NHS. Our precautions advise against using the panel on Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI.
Can you use red light therapy alongside eczema creams and medicines?
Light is an addition to prescribed treatment, not a replacement, so keep using your creams and medicines. Ask the prescriber first, because photosensitising medication is on our do-not-use list.
The list in our safety guide includes some antihistamines and doxycycline. Mayo Clinic advises moisturising at least twice a day, keeping baths under 10 minutes and applying moisturiser to damp skin. Mayo Clinic Run the light session on clean, dry skin and apply creams afterwards, as set out in red light therapy before or after skincare.
How do you use a Kivorla device on eczema-prone skin?
Start low and short on intact skin. The panel dims each wavelength from 1 to 100% with a timer from 1 minute, and the mask has a 50% brightness setting and a 5-minute timer.
The 9-Spectrum Red Light Therapy Panel has red channels at 630, 660 and 670 nm and near-infrared at 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm. Its 830 nm matches the Japanese reports, and 630 and 660 nm match the facial and mouse work. The studies used 7 to 10 J/cm² per session. At 6 inches the red channels give at least 15 mW/cm², so by our arithmetic red alone at full brightness reaches 7 J/cm² in about 8 minutes or less. Further away or dimmed, it takes longer. A cautious start, not a trial protocol:
- Distance: begin at 12 inches, which also keeps skin cooler.
- Brightness: red channels and 830 nm at a low setting, other channels turned down.
- Timer: start at 3 to 5 minutes, building towards the suggested 10 to 15 minutes per area if skin stays calm.
- Frequency: twice a week matches the studies; allow at least 6 hours between 30-minute sessions.
- Eyes: wear the included goggles. The surface stays at or below 40°C, and a controller comes in the box.
The 4-Wavelength Red Light Therapy Mask is for the face. The red mode is 665 nm red with 850 and 1064 nm near-infrared; the blue mode is 460 nm blue with 850 nm. Start at 50% for 5 minutes. The manual allows 10 minutes up to four times a week at high brightness, or 15 minutes up to three times a week, with no more than 20 minutes a day. See how much red light therapy is too much.
Standard shipping to the US, UK and Germany is free. Read the precautions before ordering. Under our return and refund policy, returns are accepted within 30 days: an unopened device with its seals intact is refunded less a 10% restocking fee, and an opened device that is undamaged and complete is refunded less 20%.
Kivorla devices are general wellness devices, not medical devices, and are not intended to treat eczema. Keep using the treatment your doctor prescribed, use light only on intact skin, and ask your doctor or pharmacist before using a light device alongside eczema medicines.