Efficacy of Laser Therapy in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: A Scoping Review

Atopic dermatitis (AD), or eczema, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition marked by itching, redness, and irritation. Traditional treatments like moisturizers, topical steroids, and antihistamines offer varied results and often cause side effects. As a result, interest has grown in alternative therapies, including narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy and laser-based treatments. This scoping review evaluates the efficacy and relevance of laser therapies in managing AD. A literature search was conducted in September 2023 using EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science. Eligible studies included original, English-language research published between 2013 and 2023 that focused on phototherapy for AD. Studies were excluded if they involved non-human subjects, were reviews or opinion pieces, lacked full-text access, or were policy/guideline documents. Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Two laser modalities demonstrated notable potential for treating AD. The 308 nm excimer laser was shown to reduce scratching behavior in dermatitis mouse models across three studies. Picosecond- and nanosecond-domain Nd:YAG lasers improved the penetration of topical peptides and accelerated skin barrier recovery. However, no studies directly examined their effects in human or animal models of AD. Additionally, none of the reviewed studies assessed the efficacy of these laser therapies across different patient populations, revealing a significant gap in the literature. Although molecular research has identified potential therapeutic targets in AD, no direct links between these targets and laser treatment have been established. Laser therapies, particularly the 308 nm excimer and Nd:YAG lasers, show promise for managing AD. However, further research is needed to evaluate their long-term effectiveness, impact on symptoms, and overall benefits for diverse patient populations.