Beyond Ultraviolet: A Scoping Review of Light Treatments in Atopic Dermatitis

Phototherapy has been long recognized as a useful tool in dermatology, and while UV therapy has proven to be successful in many conditions, other forms of light therapy also have positive evidence of efficacy for skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis (AD). The purpose of this review is to examine the existing literature using light as a treatment for AD in humans, outside of conventional UV phototherapy. Literature search of databases and search engines Embase (Elsevier), Web of Science (Clarivate), Pubmed (NLM/NIH), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Google Scholar was performed. Fifteen studies were found: 8 investigated heliotherapy and climatotherapy, 4 examined blue light therapy, and the remaining 3 examined other forms of light therapy such as low-level laser therapy, intense pulsed light therapy, and pulsed-dye laser treatment. The studies found were heterogeneous and this heterogeneity severely limits more nuanced meta-analysis or more definitive conclusions. Light therapy appears to be extremely promising in treating AD and despite its long history, continues to evolve. Non-UV forms of light are particularly notable for the treatment of AD due to their lower risk profile. This article highlights the potential of these therapies and the need for continued research to obtain a homogenous body of literature that can inform clinicians in their practice.