Ten reasons to use Red Light Therapy for TSW

I’ve been researching Red Light Therapy and Near Infrared Light for eczema and topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) damaged skin healing now for a long time. The price of the treatment and purchasing the panels was just a minefield and I just didn’t understand the science behind how it worked.

I started using Red Light therapy in March 2024 so it’s early days for my treatment. It will be interesting to compare any skin changes after 2-3 months. I will update this blog at that time.

Check out Red Light Therapy – Pro’s and Con’s for more information.

How does Red Light Therapy help heal skin?

The science behind how this works is complex. It basically increases nitric oxide which is released during RLT. Nitric oxide dilates blood vessels and improves blood flow at any site on the body. So how can it helps our skin?

1. Many people are using it to reduce signs of aging
2. It can increase collagen production in the skin
3. It can also encourage the skin to naturally produce hyaluronic acid
4. It can also help reverse the skin aging and atrophy seen in many TSW skin.
5. There are a huge number of uses, including acne, skin lesions, remove skin pigmentation and so much more.
6. Promotes hair regrowth, which is great as I need my eyebrows back
7. Dr Thomas Burke is an expert in blood flow and nitric oxide when using Red Light Therapy, he talks about how so many other uses help healing. e.g. A diabetic woman saved her leg from amputation after just 3 months of RLT for just three times a week. Another man healed a 40 year old venous ulcer with 5 months of red light therapy each day. Thanks to TSWKidd for sharing this.
8. Promotes healing deep in the skin’s dermis
9. Skin will feel smoother after just 2-3 months of use
10. There are no known side effects of adverse reactions or risk to using Red Light and Near Infrared light therapy

What you don’t want is Far Infra red light – this can be too harsh for sensitive skin such as eczema and TSW damaged skin. You want to make sure you’re using Near Infra red light and Red Light together.

How does light therapy help heal the skin?

The incredible way it works is that red light and near infra red light can pass through the skin layers to the deeper layers of the dermis to heal where the damage is, right down inside your skin. It really is incredible. Check out this video for more on the science behind how red light heals skin.

Video showing Dr Thomas Burke talking about light therapy

This video isn’t specifically about treating eczema, topical steroid withdrawal affected skin or skin healing but it shows that even necrotic skin from diabetes can be healed using light therapy. It’s incredible what this treatment can do.

How long should you use it for?

The advice on the length of time you should use your RLT panel for varies, but generally it’s advised to start with just one to two minutes at first to make sure you won’t react.

I was advised to use if for 10-15 minutes but I’m going slow and will work up from 2 minutes.
You would then try to do this treatment daily. If you are treating different parts of the body, you just repeat this for each body part.

There is no added benefit to sitting for longer, and in fact it could do harm to the skin.

How far away should you sit from your red light panel?

There is conflicting information out there and lots of different distances shared. I think for sensitive skin, particularly someone going through topical steroid withdrawal or with eczema and psoriasis, caution is advisable. I think I was sitting too close to mine at 6-8 inches away. The Optimal distance for safety and no inflammation is more like 6 inches to 48 inches.

Check out this article which explains the science bit in more detail – How Far Away to be from Red Light Therapy Panels Part 3: Cold LED Light Therapy.

I will be sitting in the far point of that range and trying for less time in a week or so; about 30-40 inches. I need to find a way of healing, whilst working, that doesn’t trigger so much inflammation. It might be nothing to do with the RLT, who knows with TSW damaged skin, but this feels like a precaution for me.

Trust you own instincts, if you feel something is irritating you, take note. You know your skin better than anyone else.

How often do others use Red Light Treatment?

I asked people how long they used theirs for. These comments are from Instagram and Facebook Red Light Therapy users:

• I went on just for 10 mins but did my whole body coz its a bit like a sunbed
• I do 10 mins, then change to a different side or part of my body and treat the areas that are worst
• You only need 10 to 15 minutes each day – TSWKidd
• I started with 1 minute, then 2, then 5, and worked slowly up to 15 minutes and I do this daily.

What’s important is consistency, making sure you keep doing this treatment daily. I’m cautious about everything these days, so start with less, and work your way up. I’m thinking five minutes, then build up to ten and so on. 15 minutes is optimum and longer times using don’t necessary add benefit, and in fact may be detrimental.

What does Red Light Therapy feel like?

I find it very relaxing actually, taking ten to fifteen minutes out to just sit, either quietly, listening to a podcast or audio book or meditating. Here’s what it’s like:

• It’s very bright, shockingly so; make sure you protect your eyes before you turn it on
• You can wear goggles or close your eyes. Since I have poor skin on my eyelids and the goggles are quite irritating after a few minutes, I shut my eyes. That is completely safe.
• Pinging sensation – I might be imagining this, but I swear I can feel tiny little fizz sensations, not unpleasant, on my skin while using the red light. They are almost imperceptible, last for a nano second and go very quickly.
• Get comfortable. I’m searching for the best way to use mine. Others have said they have a sofa table that sits in front of them, or they lay down with it next to them. I have been sitting on an upright chair in front of the dining room table and that’s working for me.
• Set a timer – I set a timer on my phone so I know when to stop the treatment.
• Always use the Red Light and Near Infra Red at the same time a both work together and are both beneficial to the skin healing.
• When I finish a treatment the world appears as if through a sepia lens, it’s very odd. It passes in a few moments but is quite funny how odd that feels. No matter what time of day, your eyesight will be a bit odd after treatment, only for a very short time though.

I have not found any side effects of treatment, except perhaps a slight drying of the skin. However drying and flaking during topical steroid withdrawal promotes healing. Skin proliferation, or the excessive flaking we get isn’t to be frowned at, the skin needs to do this to hear deeper layers.

How do you choose a Red Light panel?

Most products will work, the technology isn’t that complicated and just uses LED lights so have a look online on Amazon. There are so many brands to choose from. Here a few things to look for:

• Avoid getting one from Emr-tek, I have been told by TSWKidd that these can be too strong and may actually damage the skin.
• Make sure you get one what has Red Light and Near Infrared together as this is the best for safe skin healing.
• I got mine shipped via https://azure8.en.alibaba.com and you can also whatsapp Nicole in China on +86 177 101 24650. Please tell them Ruth with the TSW sent you! And huge thanks to Cyn for recommending them to me. There was too much choice for my poor brain to process. Mine is just a small face panel and is so well made, solid and easy to use.
• I got a small face panel and the price was very reasonable. The spec was AL300 – Commercial Physical Therapy 300-3600W 660/850nm 5 Wavelengths LED Red Light Therapy Panel.
• If you have the money, find one that has Red light and Near Infrared coming out of the same bulb. Most are alternate bulbs, like my own one. These will still do a great job but if you have the cash available, a dual bulb (is that the right term) will work faster and better, but it costs a lot more for that technology.

Make sure you do your research and check reviews etc. If you can get a recommendation from a friend, ask what panels others have. Obviously a full body panel will cost more.

Video explaining how to use Red Light for eczema and TSW

If you visit Youtube there are quite a few videos from people using it for eczema and topical steroid withdrawal so head over for a watch if you’re interested

Red Light Therapy research resources

Here are some resources that you may find interesting if you’re looking into Red Light Therapy treatment.

• TSW Kidd shares other’s success stories using RLT on instagram. Follow TSWKidd
• Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring.
• There are absolutely loads of studies on PubMed sharing research into Red Light Therapy for so many conditions such as brain injury, psoriasis, and more.
• Red Light Therapy for Topical Steroid Withdrawal by TSWAssist

I am searching for more current studies into this, but sadly I don’t think anyone is studying this treatment for eczema, atopic dermatitis or topical steroid withdrawal. It’s certainly not a magic cure or anything, but for conditions like TSW which result on collagen stripping, skin atrophy and deep skin tissue damage, it could be very powerful.

Many people are prescribed Light Therapy on the NHS in the form of UBV and UVA treatment, however this can be potentially harmful, and must be strictly monitored and only done for short periods of time under supervision. It also can’t be done long term. If you’re interested in my own experience doing this read, UVB treatment for eczema and topical steroid withdrawal.

You may also be interested in reading:

• Topical Steroid Withdrawal – Frequently asked questions
• Top 10 things that really helped my eczema skin
• 8 bath treatments for eczema