Possible Correlation Between Red and Near-Infrared Emitting Fabric and Improvement in Alopecia Areata

According to a study published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment, wellness apparel that emits red and near-infrared (NIR) light may be associated with improved disease severity in patients with mild elbow psoriasis, polymorphous light eruption (PMLE), and limited alopecia areata (AA).

Researchers aimed to investigate the potential efficacy of low-level light therapy using a red or NIR-emitting fabric in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions, specifically psoriasis, PMLE, and AA. The 12-week study consisted of 14 patients (5 with psoriasis, 5 with PMLE, and 4 with AA) who were instructed to wear a Lumiton red/NIR-emitting garment during the study period. The effectiveness of this therapy was evaluated through both subjective patient-reported improvements and objective assessments of skin conditions.

In each group, 3 patients completed the study. The 3 patients with psoriasis who completed the study reported improvements, and 2 of them exhibited positive changes in the redness, thickness, or scale of their psoriasis plaques. In the PMLE group, all 3 patients who completed the study did not experience any disease flares during the 12-week period. The 3 patients with AA who completed the study had improvements in their Severity of Alopecia Tool scores, and 2 of them reported disease improvement.

“Use of a wellness apparel that emits red and NIR light may be associated with improved disease severity in patients with mild elbow psoriasis, PMLE, and limited AA,” the authors stated. “Limitations of this study include continuation on topical, intralesional, or systemic medications and small sample size.”

Reference
Pixley JN, Chandy RJ, Richardson I, Jorizzo JL, Feldman SR. Could red and near-infrared emitting fabric technology improve the severity of psoriasis, polymorphous light eruption, and alopecia areata? J Dermatolog Treat. 2023;34(1):2251619. doi:10.1080/09546634.2023.2251619