If you’re Googling “Is red light therapy good for psoriasis?” you’re probably all too familiar with the complexities of finding a treatment that works for the chronic condition.
Alongside other idiopathic conditions, like stress, or irritable bowels, it’s often all but impossible to pin down a specific reason for its trigger. Likewise, it’s aggravatingly difficult to find a cure. And, to make it especially unpredictable, what helps one person, may not help another. So if you can relate, we’re truly sending love and luck that you get to the bottom of what works for you.
Dermatologists and rheumatologists have been working for years towards making psoriasis easier to manage and red light therapy, in particular, has been getting a lot of attention. Of course, it helps that it has a very high profile fan in its corner. Kim Kardashian has spoken previously, about using red light to help calm her psoriasis flare ups.
So, we spoke to the experts to find out more about how red light therapy can help.
What is psoriasis?
“Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes skin cells to renew too quickly,” says Sophie Smith, Aesthetician, Laser & Skin expert and Co-Founder of Grand Aesthetics Clinic. Specifically, “skin cells can multiply up to 10 times faster than normal,” notes Board-Certified Dermatologist and Cosmetologist, Dr Aiza Jamil.
It can also have a knock-on effect to other parts of the body. For instance, “it can affect joints, causing arthritis,” explains Dr Ahmed El Houssieny, Aesthetic Doctor & Founder of Bank Medispa on behalf of Allergan Aesthetics.
What does psoriasis look like?
“Psoriasis is mainly characterised by lesions in the skin, and these lesions tend to be a thickened top layer of the skin. They can appear silver/white, alongside redness. It is not contagious, and it can typically affect the face, elbows, back and anywhere on the body,” says Dr El Houssieny.
What does psoriasis feel like?
“Patients can experience itching, discomfort and pain from psoriasis, especially during flare-ups.’ says Dr Jamil.
What causes psoriasis?
“No one really understands why you get psoriasis, but the main reason is due to increased production of skin cells,” explains Dr El Houssieny. As for why this happens, “flare-ups [can be] triggered by stress, illness, hormonal changes or even the weather,” says Sophie. “I’ve lived with psoriasis since childhood, so I understand first-hand how unpredictable those cycles can be, not just physically, but emotionally too,” she adds.
Does psoriasis go away?
“Many people experience cycles where their skin is relatively calm, followed by flare-ups,” notes Sophie.
Can red light therapy help with the skin condition?
The short answer is, it may help with symptoms but it can’t cure the condition. “There is not enough evidence to suggest that it can penetrate deep enough to alter immune responses,” says Dr Jamil. But it can support by reducing inflammation and promoting repair.
“Red light therapy can work well for psoriasis, as it has an anti-inflammatory effect and can improve and repair the skin barrier,” confirms Dr El Houssieny. “It can also reduce the scaling and redness,” he adds. “As psoriasis is driven by inflammation, reducing that inflammatory response is key,” agrees Sophie. As for who may benefit. “It’s best used for mild cases or as a supplement to other treatments, such as corticosteroids,” says Dr El Houssieny.
“In my experience and personally managing my own psoriasis, I’ve found consistent red-light therapy helps to reduce redness, soothe irritation, and support the skin’s recovery during flare-ups. While it isn’t a cure, it can be a powerful, non-invasive addition alongside medical advice,” says Sophie.
What to know about red light therapy