While light therapy is not typically the first line of defense for people with eczema (moisturizers and corticosteroids are usually the first step), it could be a good option, especially for people who are trying to reduce the amount of creams and ointments they apply, says Page.
Dr. Piliang and Page also say light therapy may be a good option for the following circumstances:
- If you don’t want to take injections
- If you don’t like the side effects of a medication
- If you are targeting eczema in a particular area, like the hands or feet
- If you’re targeting widespread eczema and want to reduce your usage of prescription creams
Is Light Therapy Right for Your Eczema Treatment Plan?
For some people, light therapy is the “backbone of their care,” says High. But it typically isn’t the only aspect of an eczema treatment plan, he says. There is really no eczema therapy that doesn’t require other medications or lifestyle recommendations.
“We might still use topical therapies like corticosteroids. We always recommend skin moisturizers and gentle bathing practices,” he says.
Light therapy for eczema is not the same as basking in the sun all day or using a tanning bed. “Natural sunlight can help relieve symptoms of eczema, but artificially produced UV light is best for eczema treatment because it can be controlled and given under supervision,” says Page.
This medical route is different from a tanning bed, says Piliang. Medical light boxes filter out some UV wavelengths, making this therapy a safer option. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves medical UV phototherapy — it does not approve indoor tanning devices, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association.
What to Expect at Your Light Therapy Appointment
At the light therapy appointment, you’ll moisturize your skin, then stand undressed (except for underwear) in a light box, with goggles on to protect your eyes. “The box is kind of like a tanning bed, but you stand up instead of lying down. At first, the session will be very short — maybe only 15 or 20 seconds,” says High.
People usually go to light therapy appointments two or three times a week, and you need to skip at least one day in between sessions, he says.
“Each time you come back for light therapy, you get a little tiny bit longer ‘dosage’ until eventually you might end up getting three or four minutes of light therapy at a time,” says High.
Once people have an adequate treatment response — maybe after 10 to 12 weeks — the sessions are spaced farther apart until they are eventually stopped, he says.
“Eventually, you do what’s called ‘riding the remission,’ where their eczema symptoms have improved, and their skin is in good shape. At that point, you see how long they can just use topical medicines and moisturizers,” says High.
A person can always do a round of light therapy again when they need it, but because additional ultraviolet light can be a risk factor for skin cancer, you don’t want to do it indefinitely for the rest of your life, he says.