Eczema can be very annoying to deal with at times and drastically affect one’s 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.
Red light therapy is non-invasive, so there’s nothing to fear. If at all, the only discomfort you’ll experience is the warmth from the light that helps stimulates cellular activity to promote healing on your skin.
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.
How To Use Light Therapy To Treat Eczema?
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.
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.
Before you undergo this therapy, it would be best to consult a dermatologist to ensure it’s safe for your specific condition. They can also ensure that the proper procedure is done on your skin. If you’re interested in getting the treatment but are worried about the costs, you can purchase Affordable Red Light Therapy Devices available on the market. For better results, seek guidance from your dermatologist on the proper usage of the device.
Before your session, it’s essential to cleanse your skin and dry it thoroughly. Do remember that you must not exceed the recommended length of time in using the device to prevent burns. Ideally, you only need to use the device for five to ten minutes, but you can gradually increase it depending on your tolerance.
Other Possible Home Treatments to Treat Eczema
Red light therapy is not the only form of treatment for eczema, even though it has promising results. There are several treatments you can try to treat your eczema based on the severity of your condition.
That said, different treatments have different types of effectiveness as it all varies from person to person and how bad the situation is. Some of the most common and reliable treatments you can opt for are as mentioned below –
Using Good Moisturizers
Since eczema causes the skin to dry up much faster and become patchy, it is important to moisturize the area thoroughly. Preventing the skin from drying up can help reduce the need for itch and allow the inflammation to go down.
Applying good emollients will create a protective barrier and not allow any external dirt or material to come in contact with the inflamed and irritated area.
Alternatively, you can apply a thick, unscented moisturizer such as petroleum jelly or ceramide cream twice daily to help soothe the skin. Just make sure to buy a good quality brand and not settle for cheap ones that compromise quality.
It will also keep the area well-hydrated and prevent water loss. Water loss can provoke more flare-ups than you would expect. Therefore, being hydrated both inside and outside by moisturizing is vital.
It will also allow the patchy, dry, scaly skin to settle easily. You will also notice reduced numbers of flare-ups when the skin is well-hydrated. Thus, less irritation and flares. However, even if you do still get them, they should be tolerable and be able to contain them.
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.
Keeping your nails short is essential so you don’t create scratches that would become permanent scars that are more challenging to remove. Also, some people use socks on their hands at night to lessen the effect of scratching while asleep.
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. Also, try as much as possible to avoid irritants. Harsh soaps, detergents, and fragrances can trigger flare-ups. This way, you can keep the area clean and prevent further damage.
Maintain Sanitation And Hygiene
Sanitization is vital whether or not you are trying to avoid eczema flare-ups. However, if you have frequent eczema flare-outs, you must pay extra attention to sanitization to prevent the triggers.
Maintaining hygiene can go a long way to minimize and reduce eczema flare-ups, as there will be little to no reasons to trigger the flares. This is why it is always recommended to shower daily and clean thoroughly.
The cleaner your body and clothing are, the more you can rest at ease, knowing you are not carelessly triggering the reactions. Wear clean clothes, avoid getting dirty, and proper moisturization can help contain the reactions.
If you are very sensitive and prone to getting these flare-ups outdoors, try frequently sanitizing the area. This will also buy you time before you shower it off properly.
Avoid Possible Infections
This is obvious and common knowledge to have. Avoiding infections at all costs is crucial to contain eczema flare-outs. Eczema, in and of itself, is very painful, and difficult to resist the urge to itch. Everything can get way worse when you develop an infection.
This may cause your itch to intensify several times; you may begin to notice dry and cracked skin that peels away. You may also find blood residue around these dry patches too.
Avoid using your nails against the flared-up skin as it may trigger infection. Nails are known to be very dirty and full of bacteria. Therefore, maintain cleanliness to avoid infection.
Bottom Line
Eczema is a common skin condition that can affect anyone at any age. Whether you have any prior history of skin condition or not, you may suffer from eczema. While there is no permanent treatment for this skin condition, several treatments can help you with the situation.
One of these treatments can be to use red light therapy to treat eczema. This has been tried and tested by many patients who have noticed a visible and prominent reduction in the number of flare-ups. Therefore, you can try this treatment to help with your eczema, depending on the severity of your situation.