Using Red Light Therapy for Eczema & Psoriasis Healing

2026-02-14

If you’ve followed my healing journey, you know I’m constantly experimenting — carefully — with tools that might move the needle on eczema and psoriasis.

Red light therapy is one of those tools.

It’s not trendy biohacking for me. It’s a targeted strategy.

In this post, I’ll explain:

Where red light therapy fits in a real healing protocol
Whether it needs to be directly on damaged skin
Whether there are systemic benefits
The exact at-home protocol I’m using
Why I chose the device I did

What Red Light Therapy Actually Does

Red light therapy (also called low-level light therapy or photobiomodulation) uses specific wavelengths of light — typically:

Red light (~660nm)
Near-infrared light (~850nm)

These wavelengths penetrate tissue and stimulate something called cytochrome c oxidase inside mitochondria.

Translation:

It helps your cells produce more ATP (energy)
It reduces inflammatory signaling
It improves circulation
It supports tissue repair

This matters for eczema and psoriasis because both involve:

Chronic inflammation
Impaired skin barrier
Immune dysregulation
Poor tissue repair

Red light doesn’t suppress the immune system like UV therapy does.
Instead, it supports cellular recovery and modulates inflammation.

Does the Light Need to Be Directly on Damaged Skin?

Short answer: Yes — for local healing, direct exposure is best.

Red light penetrates about:

5–10mm (red light)
Up to several centimeters (near infrared)

For eczema or psoriasis plaques:

Direct exposure improves circulation to the lesion
Supports keratinocyte repair
Reduces inflammatory cytokines
Speeds barrier recovery

If you want to heal a plaque, you shine the light on the plaque.

Are There Systemic Benefits?

Research suggests red light can produce systemic anti-inflammatory effects, even when applied to a different area of the body.

Why?

Because:

Immune cells circulate in the bloodstream
Mitochondrial activation improves whole-body energy production
Large muscle irradiation increases nitric oxide and circulation

So even if I’m treating my arms, I may also:

Shine light on my back
Expose my abdomen
Treat large muscle groups

The goal isn’t just skin repair.
It’s lowering overall inflammatory burden.

For autoimmune-driven skin conditions, that matters.

How This Fits in My Healing Protocol

I think about healing in layers:

1️⃣ Gut & Root Cause

Diet, fasting, microbiome work, inflammation reduction.

2️⃣ Systemic Inflammation Control

Sleep, stress, mitochondrial support.

3️⃣ Local Skin Repair

Barrier recovery, antimicrobial support, tissue regeneration.

Red light therapy fits into Layer 2 and Layer 3.

It does not replace:

Diet changes
Gut repair
Removing triggers

It accelerates tissue recovery while the root causes are being addressed.

The Device I’m Using

I use the Hooga PRO300 Red Light Therapy Panel.

You can see it here:
https://amzn.to/467ikzh

It includes:

Red (660nm) and near infrared (850nm)
60 LEDs
Built-in timer
Flicker-free output
Low-level light (<5 mW per LED)

It’s not a medical-grade dermatology UV unit — and that’s the point. I didn’t want UV. I wanted mitochondrial stimulation.

Disclosure: The link above is an affiliate link. If you purchase through it, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

My At-Home Red Light Protocol (Using the Hooga PRO300)

Because I own the unit, I can use it daily. That flexibility changes everything.

Here’s the protocol I’m currently running:

🔴 Part 1 — Direct Lesion Treatment

Distance: 6–12 inches
Time: 10–15 minutes per area
Frequency: 5–7x per week

I expose:

Active eczema patches
Psoriasis plaques
Areas with slow healing

If multiple areas need treatment, I rotate them.

🔴 Part 2 — Systemic Anti-Inflammatory Exposure

Distance: 12–18 inches
Time: 10–15 minutes
Frequency: 3–5x per week

I treat:

Back
Thighs
Large muscle groups

Goal:
Lower systemic inflammation and support mitochondrial output.

🔴 Part 3 — Abdomen / Immune Support

Distance: 12 inches
Time: 10 minutes
Frequency: 3–5x per week

Why the abdomen?

A large portion of the immune system is associated with gut tissue. Improving circulation and mitochondrial function here may indirectly support immune balance.

Total Session Time

20–30 minutes per session.

Sometimes I split it morning and evening.

Consistency matters more than intensity.

Ideal Conditions for Maximum Benefit

If you have a home unit, here’s how to optimize:

Use it at the same time daily
Apply on clean skin (no thick creams blocking light)
Avoid applying immediately after heavy occlusive products
Stay consistent for at least 8–12 weeks

This isn’t an overnight fix.

Red light therapy works gradually through cellular signaling.

What Results to Expect

Based on research and anecdotal reports:

Weeks 1–2:

Slight reduction in redness
Improved wound healing

Weeks 3–6:

Less scaling
Reduced itch intensity
Faster recovery from flares

Weeks 8+:

Improved resilience
Possibly fewer flare cycles

It’s subtle but cumulative.

How It Differs From UV Therapy

Dermatologists often prescribe UVB therapy for psoriasis.

UVB:

Suppresses immune overactivity
Works well short-term
Has long-term exposure risks

Red light:

Supports mitochondrial repair
Reduces inflammation without UV damage
Safe for long-term use

They are completely different mechanisms.

Who Should Be Careful

Avoid or consult a physician if:

You are on photosensitizing medications
You have active skin cancer
You have conditions affected by light sensitivity

For most people, red and near-infrared light are considered very safe.

Why I’m Personally Using It

I don’t expect red light to cure eczema or psoriasis.

But I do expect it to:

Improve tissue repair speed
Reduce inflammatory load
Help mitigate steroid rebound
Improve mitochondrial resilience

Healing isn’t one intervention.

It’s stacking small advantages consistently.

Red light therapy is one of those advantages.