Red Light Therapy for Psoriasis: Studies, Settings and Safety
Red light therapy for psoriasis has early, encouraging research behind it, from small studies that aimed red, near-infrared or blue LED light at individual plaques. The light treatment dermatologists prescribe for psoriasis is a different thing: measured doses of ultraviolet. Below: how the two differ, what the LED studies found and the settings they used, which plaques to leave alone, and how to set up a home device.
Key takeaways
- The light therapy dermatologists use for psoriasis is ultraviolet: NICE advises narrowband UVB, given 2 or 3 times a week, when topical treatments alone do not control plaques. NICE
- In a 2015 randomised trial of 47 people with mild psoriasis, 453 nm blue LED light improved treated plaques more than untreated plaques over 12 weeks. Pfaff, 2015
- In a 2010 pilot of 9 people with hard-to-treat psoriasis, 830 nm near-infrared plus 633 nm red LED light, twice a week for 4 to 5 weeks, cleared treated sites by 60% to 100% in the 7 people assessed. Ablon, 2018
- In a 20-person comparison, 420 nm blue and 630 nm red light both improved scaling and plaque thickness, and blue did more for redness. Kleinpenning, 2012
- New plaques can form in injured skin in 11 to 75% of people with psoriasis, usually 10 to 20 days after the injury, so never use light on cracked or broken plaques. StatPearls, 2022
Does red light therapy help psoriasis?
Small studies suggest red and near-infrared LED light can improve the scaling, thickness and redness of treated plaques. The best-studied visible colour so far is blue, in a 2015 randomised trial on mild plaques.
A 2018 clinical review of light for psoriasis described the LED studies as early and small. Zhang and Wu, 2018 Researchers are interested because of lab work. In a 2025 study on human skin models and mice, 633 nm red LED light slowed the overgrowth of skin cells that builds a plaque, without killing cells. Austin, 2025
Is red light therapy the same as the UV light therapy a dermatologist offers?
No, they are different treatments. Dermatology phototherapy for psoriasis uses ultraviolet light, mainly narrowband UVB at about 311 nm, while red, near-infrared and blue LED devices emit no UV.
NICE advises offering narrowband UVB for plaque or guttate psoriasis "that cannot be controlled with topical treatments alone". NICE The AAD says most patients need "two or three phototherapy treatments a week". AAD A UK course runs to about 15 to 30 treatments. BAD, 2018
| UV phototherapy | Blue LED | Red and near-infrared LED | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wavelength | About 311 nm UVB; 308 nm excimer | 420 to 453 nm in studies | 630 to 633 nm red, 830 nm near-infrared in studies |
| Contains UV | Yes | No | No |
| How often | 2 to 3 times a week | Daily for 4 weeks, then at least 3 times a week | 2 to 3 times a week |
| Course | About 15 to 30 treatments | 12 weeks | 4 to 5 weeks |
| Strength of evidence | Recommended in guidelines | Randomised trial, 47 people | Pilot of 9; comparison of 20 |
Some UVB units use LED bulbs, so an "LED" label alone does not mean visible light. NPF Those units still emit UV. Mayo Clinic notes that long-term PUVA brings an "increased risk of skin cancer, including melanoma". Mayo Clinic Our article on red light therapy for eczema sets out the same split for another skin condition.
What does the "60 to 100% clearance" figure for red light refer to?
It comes from a 2010 pilot in which 9 people with hard-to-treat psoriasis had 830 nm near-infrared and 633 nm red LED light. Of the 7 people assessed 3 to 4 months later, treated sites had cleared by 60% to 100%.
The details, as reported in a 2018 review by the same author: Ablon, 2018
- Who: 8 people with chronic plaque psoriasis and 1 with guttate psoriasis, most of whom had not responded well to standard treatment.
- Light: 830 nm at 60 J/cm², then 633 nm at 126 J/cm², in the same session.
- Schedule: two 20-minute sessions a week, 48 hours apart, for 4 to 5 weeks.
- Side effects: none significant, according to a second review. Zhang and Wu, 2018 Satisfaction was high.
It was a small pilot with no untreated comparison group, so the figure describes what happened to those treated spots in those people. A 2023 pilot of a red and near-infrared emitting garment on mild elbow psoriasis points the same way. Pixley, 2023 All 3 people who completed its 12 weeks reported improvement.
Is blue light or red light better for psoriasis plaques?
In the one head-to-head study, both colours improved scaling and plaque thickness to a similar degree, and blue did more for redness. Blue also has the largest controlled trial of any visible colour.
The comparison treated two stable plaques in each of 20 people, one with blue and one with red, three times a week for 4 weeks. Kleinpenning, 2012 The trial registry lists 420 nm blue and 630 nm red LED light at about 90 mW/cm², for 20 minutes, a few centimetres from the skin. Trial registry
The 2015 blue light trial gave 47 people with mild psoriasis a wearable 453 nm LED on one plaque, with a matching plaque left untreated. Pfaff, 2015
- Dose: 90 J/cm² per 30-minute session.
- Schedule: daily for 4 weeks, then at least 3 times a week up to week 12.
- Result: in the higher-intensity group, treated plaques improved by 0.92 points more than untreated plaques on a 12-point plaque score.
- Bigger responders: 16.7% of that group saw more than 75% improvement in the treated plaque.
- Safety: no device-related side effects were reported.
The authors concluded: "UV-free blue light home treatment is safe and improves Pv plaques." Pv means psoriasis vulgaris, the common plaque type. Our blue light therapy guide covers blue light for other skin concerns.
What settings did psoriasis light studies use, and how soon did plaques change?
Sessions of 20 to 30 minutes on one plaque at a time, 2 to 7 times a week, for 4 to 12 weeks. The blue trial measured its main result at week 12, and the red and near-infrared pilot judged results at 3 to 4 months.
| Study | Light | Strength or dose | Minutes | Sessions a week | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot, 2010 (9 people) | 830 nm, then 633 nm | 60 and 126 J/cm² | 20 | 2 | 4 to 5 |
| Comparison, 2012 (20 people) | 420 nm or 630 nm | About 90 mW/cm² | 20 | 3 | 4 |
| Blue trial, 2015 (47 people) | 453 nm | 90 J/cm² | 30 | Daily, then at least 3 | 12 |
| Planned UK home study | 453, 633 and 830 nm | Not published | 15 | 5 | 12 |
| Narrowband UVB in clinic | About 311 nm UV | Set by skin type | Seconds, rising to minutes | 2 to 3 | 15 to 30 treatments |
The planned UK home study is listed by the HRA, 2018. For UV phototherapy, Cleveland Clinic says most people see improvement after six to eight treatments. Cleveland Clinic The NPF puts it this way: "The key to success with light therapy is consistency." NPF With LED light, allow at least 4 weeks before judging, and 12 for a full picture.
Can you use red light on cracked, bleeding or picked plaques?
No, leave those areas alone until the skin has closed. Our precautions rule out use over broken skin, an open wound or a skin injury, and cracks or bleeding points in a plaque count as broken skin.
New plaques can form in injured skin, called the Koebner response, seen in "approximately 11 to 75%" of people with psoriasis. StatPearls, 2022 New lesions typically appear 10 to 20 days after the injury. The NPF lists scratches, sunburn and bug bites among triggers. NPF
- Intact plaques only: keep a cracked spot covered or out of the light, and restart there once it has closed.
- Leave the scale alone: Mayo Clinic advises washing gently, so soften scale with a lukewarm bath and moisturiser rather than picking or scrubbing. Mayo Clinic
- Warm, not hot: a heat injury is a trigger in its own right, so keep every session comfortable.
The NHS advises urgent care if skin quickly turns red with pus-filled bumps. NHS
Can you use a red light mask on psoriasis on your face?
Only with your dermatologist's agreement, since facial skin is sensitive and the light studies used body plaques. If they agree, a mask is the device shaped for the face.
"Roughly 50% of people living with psoriasis have psoriasis on their face", according to the NPF. NPF The NPF calls facial skin "very sensitive", and Mayo Clinic notes that milder creams are usually used on the face. Psoriasis around the eyes is rare and belongs with a doctor.
The Kivorla mask has two modes. The blue mode pairs 460 nm blue with 850 nm near-infrared, and its blue sits close to the 453 nm of the 2015 plaque trial. The red mode pairs 665 nm red with 850 and 1064 nm near-infrared. The mask covers the face, not the jawline, under the chin or the neck. The panel reaches those areas.
Does red light work on scalp or nail psoriasis?
The light research on the scalp and nails uses prescribed tools: UV combs and excimer for the scalp, and other light types for nails. Hair also blocks much of the light.
Scalp psoriasis is common: 52 to 80% of people with psoriasis have had it. NPF The NPF lists prescribed UV combs, and clinic excimer 2 to 3 times a week, as the light options. A panel can reach plaques on bare skin along the hairline, behind the ears and on the neck.
For nails, a 2018 review reports 550 nm intense pulsed light improving the nail bed by 71.2%. Zhang and Wu, 2018 A 2020 study on 69 nails used red light together with a light-activating drug, called photodynamic therapy. Tehranchinia, 2020 That is a separate clinic treatment. For plaques on intact palms and soles, our guide to red light therapy for hands and feet covers positioning.
Can you use red light alongside creams, coal tar, methotrexate or biologics?
Keep your prescribed treatment going and ask the prescriber first. Our precautions say not to use either device with photosensitising medication.
The NPF notes that tazarotene and coal tar can raise the risk of sunburn during UV therapy. NPF The British Association of Dermatologists excludes people taking ciclosporin or methotrexate from UV phototherapy. BAD, 2018 For red light, the AAD says light-sensitising medicines may make it unsuitable. AAD, 2024
- Before a session: clean, dry skin, with no cream on the area.
- After a session: apply your prescribed treatment and moisturiser.
Is red light suitable for psoriasis on darker skin?
Talk to a dermatologist before starting, as the AAD advises for anyone with darker skin who plans to use a home device. Darker skin is more prone to pigment changes, both from light and from psoriasis itself.
On darker skin, psoriasis may look "salmon, dark brown, purple, or violet with grayish scale". NPF The NHS says patches can look grey on brown or black skin and can leave dark marks. NHS In the 2015 blue light trial, about half the participants reported mild darkening around the treated plaque, though skin pigment measurements did not confirm it. Pfaff, 2015 Our precautions advise against using the panel on Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI.
How do you set up the Kivorla panel or mask for psoriasis plaques?
Use the panel for body plaques and the mask only for the face, start short and low, and light only intact plaques. Keep your prescribed treatment going, and follow your dermatologist's advice.
The 9-Spectrum Red Light Therapy Panel has nine channels: 480, 590, 630, 660, 670, 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm, each dimmable from 1 to 100%. Its 630, 660 and 670 nm red channels sit near the 630 and 633 nm red of the studies. Its 830 and 850 nm channels sit near the pilot's 830 nm. Hung on a door or wall, or stood on the floor, it reaches elbows, knees, shins, the back and the neck. Its timer runs from 1 to 30 minutes and stops at 5 minutes if no time is set.
- Week 1: goggles on, 12 inches away, channels dimmed low, 3 to 5 minutes on one or two intact plaques.
- Building up: if skin stays comfortable, move towards our suggested 10 to 15 minutes per area, at 6 inches for a small area such as an elbow or knee.
- Frequency: the red and near-infrared studies ran 2 to 3 sessions a week; leave at least 6 hours between 30-minute sessions.
- Warmth: lower the near-infrared channels first if a plaque feels hot.
The 4-Wavelength Red Light Therapy Mask is for facial plaques, if your dermatologist agrees. Its output is 50 to 103 mW/cm², with brightness at 50, 70 or 90% and a 5, 10 or 15-minute timer. Start at 50% for 5 minutes. The manual allows 10 minutes up to 4 times a week at high brightness, or 15 minutes up to 3 times a week, and never more than 20 minutes in a day. The mask has an eye opening with no diodes over the eyes; keep your eyes closed, and wear the goggles with the panel.
To judge change, compare one target plaque with a similar untreated plaque, as the studies did. Rate redness, thickness and scale from 0 to 4 each, and photograph both in the same light at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12. Stop and see a doctor if a plaque spreads, new plaques appear in treated skin, skin blisters, or redness lasts hours. The panel ships with goggles, a controller, a pulley and a door hook. Our mask vs panel comparison helps you choose.
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 psoriasis. Ask a dermatologist before using light on psoriasis, keep your prescribed treatment going, and see a doctor about cracked, infected or spreading plaques.