Can Red Light Therapy Help Autoimmune Symptoms and Flares?

What Are Autoimmune Diseases?

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own healthy tissues and organs. This leads to inflammation, damage, and a wide array of signs and symptoms. There are more than 80 identified autoimmune conditions ranging from relatively minor to potentially life-threatening.

Common Autoimmune Diseases

Some of the most prevalent autoimmune diseases include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Type 1 diabetes
• Multiple sclerosis
• Psoriasis
• Vitiligo

Flare-Ups and Remissions

Most autoimmune conditions go through unpredictable cycles of flare-ups (periods when symptoms worsen) and remissions (times with less symptoms). Stress, infections, hormones, and other triggers can lead to flares.

Using Red Light Therapy for Autoimmune Diseases

Red light therapy involves exposing the body to low level red and near-infrared light for therapeutic benefits. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and immunity-boosting effects that may help those suffering from autoimmune issues.

How It Works

The light photons stimulate cells to produce more ATP energy and reactive oxygen species. This leads to benefits like:

• Reduced inflammation
• Increased blood flow
• Accelerated cell regeneration
• Improved tissue oxygenation

These effects allow the body to function better and may calm autoimmune reactions.

Red Light Therapy Research

Though more research is still needed, initial studies on using red light therapy for autoimmune conditions are very promising. Some examples include:

• A 2020 study found near infrared light decreased inflammatory markers and prevented thyroid destruction in an autoimmune thyroiditis mouse model.
• A 2021 review compiled results from multiple trials showing red light therapy significantly improved symptoms and quality of life for rheumatoid arthritis patients.
• Another 2020 literature analysis concluded red light therapy can modulate immunity and suppress chronic inflammatory processes involved in conditions like multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Type 1 diabetes.

Using Light to Improve Autoimmune Skin Conditions

Some of the most visible impacts of autoimmune disease come from skin related symptoms like rashes, redness, and pigment changes. The anti-inflammatory and tissue regeneration benefits of red light therapy can provide improvement in these cosmetic problems.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo leads to patchy loss of skin color/pigment, often first noticed as white spots. Small trials using targeted red light to impact melanin have shown the ability to repigment vitiliginous skin lesions up to 75% in some cases.

Psoriasis

The raised, inflamed, scaly skin patches characteristic of psoriasis significantly improved after 6-8 weeks of broad-scope red light therapy in multiple studies. Reduced scaling, thickness, redness, and itching were reported.

Other Skin Conditions

Red light therapy also shows early promise for skin related symptoms in lupus, rosacea, scleroderma, and dermatomyositis based on initial case reports. More research is still needed.

Using Light for Joint and Muscle Issues

Many autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus cause debilitating joint pain, stiffness, and mobility issues over time due to chronic inflammation damaging tissue. The anti-inflammatory effects of red light therapy can lead to marked improvement in these symptoms.

Red Light Therapy Research on Joints/Muscles

Specific research examples include:

• A 2016 study on lupus patients found 8 weeks of near infrared light therapy decreased pain levels by over 60% while increasing range of motion and improving quality of life.
• A 2020 clinical trial concluded 3 months of at-home red light therapy significantly reduced tender/swollen joint counts and morning stiffness duration in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Accelerating Healing

By activating cells, red light therapy accelerates every phase of the healing process and facilitates tissue repair from autoimmune damage. This helps strengthen joints, muscles, and connective tissues.

Using Light for Fatigue and Cognitive Function

Many autoimmune disease patients battle symptoms like severe fatigue, brain fog, memory issues, and concentration problems. The effects of red light therapy on cellular energy production can provide real improvement.

Increasing Cellular Energy

By enhancing mitochondria function and ATP energy creation, red light therapy has been shown to significantly boost energy levels and reduce fatigue in multiple trials.

Enhancing Blood Flow to the Brain

Better circulation from red light therapy also optimizes delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. This improved brain energy metabolism can enhance cognitive faculties.

Repairing Nerve Cell Damage

The nerve demyelination behind multiple sclerosis leads to cognitive impairment over time. Research indicates red light therapy may help repair and restore myelin nerve sheath damage by stimulating progenitor cells.

Is At-Home Use Effective?

Many of the most successful clinical trials demonstrating red light therapy benefits for autoimmune patients have used at-home light panels and devices. Using your own device offers convenience and allows for consistent application.

Choosing a Device

When selecting an at-home unit, dual red/near-infrared light close to 670nm/850nm wavelengths seems most effective. Covering larger surface areas like full body mats/wraps or portable saunas can treat systemic inflammation simultaneously.

Use Consistently

Its important to use light therapy consistently every day to compound benefits over time. Most trials have patients apply for 30-60 minutes per session. Work closely with your functional medicine doctor to determine optimal protocols and light dosages tailored to your specific autoimmune condition.

Lifestyle Changes Also Help

While red light therapy offers exciting support against debilitating autoimmune symptoms, lifestyle measures remain extremely important as well. Things like diet, stress reduction, exercise, and gut health optimization can reduce flare-ups.

The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Diet

This specialized anti-inflammatory, gut healing diet helps identify trigger foods. It eliminates grains, dairy, legumes, eggs, nuts, seeds, nightshades, oils, alcohol and more. After a minimum 30 day strict elimination, foods are slowly reintroduced while monitoring reactions.

Stress Management Strategies

Chronic stress is strongly implicated in autoimmune flares. Prioritizing regular relaxation practices like meditation, yoga, breathwork, saunas, massages, and nature therapy stabilizes the nervous system.

The Bottom Line

Red light therapy is an emerging complementary treatment with considerable potential against the inflammation driving autoimmune disease. Though more research is warranted, current evidence clearly demonstrates its ability to help minimize various autoimmune symptoms and improve quality of life.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.