Rosacea is a dermatological disease that affects 5.5 percent of the global population, according to recent statistics. There are four subtypes of this skin condition, including papulopustular rosacea, erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, phymatous rosacea, and ocular rosacea.
In addition, the most common treatments used for this dermatological disease are IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), and PDL (Pulsed Dye Laser). However, red light therapy, also known as laser therapy, is another treatment method that can be used to treat rosacea.
But is red light therapy effective? How can you use it at home? Let’s find out.
Is Red Light Therapy Effective for Treating Rosacea?
Yes, red light therapy can help you reduce rosacea symptoms. Instead of treating the skin condition directly, red light therapy increases the energy production of your skin cells. It allows these cells to use their own natural defensive mechanism to reduce the symptom of the disease.
The light that red light therapy devices produce can penetrate your skin and reach mitochondria and allow skin cells to produce more ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) energy.
This cellular energy is then used to increase the healing power of the skin to reduce rosacea symptoms, such as visible blood vessels, thickened skin, and facial redness.
Science Behind Red Light Therapy to Treat Rosacea
According to a study* published by the National Library of Medicine, the combination of blue and red light-emitting diodes therapy can reduce rosacea symptoms significantly, within 10 therapy sessions.
Another study shows that the anti-inflammatory effects of red-light therapy can also promote skin’s healing power by increasing collagen production. The study shows that red light therapy appears to have an effect on macrophages.
It’s your skin’s cellular organelles that can detect and fight pathogens. Macrophages are divided into two subcategories, including M1 and M2 phenotypes. The first type improves your immune system, as it’s pro-inflammatory.
Whereas the second type fights against inflammation and improves your skin’s healing power with the help of increased levels of collagen. Red light therapy can convert M1 macrophages into M2.
How to Use Red Light Therapy at Home for Rosacea
You can find different types of red light therapy devices on the market but we recommend you buy the one that offers both red and blue light therapy options. That’s because combining these two lights offers the best results when it comes to treating rosacea.
According to the study* discussed above, the wavelength of blue light should be between 480 to 489 nanometers and it should be 650 nanometers for red light.
It’s critically important to sit at a safe distance while using red light therapy for rosacea. That’s because this skin condition is sensitive to heat and sitting too close to the device can be counterproductive.
In addition, it’s also important to have short therapy sessions but more frequently. You can start with three- to five-minute sessions daily to see how your body responds to the red-light therapy.
Final Words
Red light therapy can help you reduce the symptoms of rosacea but keep in mind that it can’t cure the condition. You can use this treatment method to accelerate the healing process.
If you’re already using an ointment or any other medical treatment for this skin condition, make sure that you consult your dermatologist before using red light therapy.