Equine Allergic Dermatitis: Can light therapy help your horse to heal?
Disclaimer: As a freelance marketing consultant, I’m lucky to be able to support microbusiness, Optimus Therapy Tech - a provider of red, infrared and blue light therapy for dogs, pets and horses.
I’ve been involved with the business right from the start - supporting the development of the brand, pre-marketing, partnerships, sponsored riders, teams and ambassadors. My experience of using red light therapy is based on having access to my own device for my own personal use on my horses and not in a commercial capacity - either as a reseller or as a therapist or professional practitioner.
Pruritis (itchy skin) in horses affects both the comfort and overall health of our four-legged friends. Typically caused by parasites, infections, and allergies, it’s characterised by intense itching, inflammation, and secondary skin damage from scratching and rubbing, and as a result, requires a comprehensive management strategy to get under control.
IMPORTANT! Your first port of call is always your vet. Any use of therapeutic treatments such as red light should be in addition to, and alongside, any treatment your vet prescribes. Having said that, ‘photobiomodulation therapy ‘ - using red, infrared, and blue light wavelengths can aide repair and recovery - providing the optimal conditions for recovery.
How does light therapy work?
Light therapy works at the cellular level through photobiomodulation, where specific wavelengths of light interact with chromophores in cells, particularly cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondria. This interaction stimulates cellular metabolism, enhances ATP production, and triggers a healing response.
Does wavelength matter?
Red light therapy, typically operates at wavelengths between 630-700nm, penetrates the epidermis and reaches the dermis where much of the healing occurs. I know many vets and member of the scientific community believe this to be ineffective on horses/dogs where hair acts as a barrier to light penetration, but I can only go on the feedback and reaction I receive from my horses - I can see improvement and my horses are relaxed and happy to be treated.
Red light therapy
Using red light therapy can help the sensitive muzzle area repair and recover from from trauma/self-harm.
So - to continue with the science part - this wavelength also enhances circulation, bringing vital nutrients and oxygen to compromised areas while facilitating the removal of inflammatory byproducts. In short, I’m helping to provide the optimum conditions for healing.
When an allergic reaction has just occured and I need to jump on it, my order of actions would be something like this:
Wash Chewy with either an insecticidal shampoo (dermoline) or a soothing shampoo (oatmeal/aloe vera) if his skin is particularly dry.
When clean and dry - use the blue light (30-60 seconds over the affected area) to reduce surface bacteria, followed by red light (30-60 seconds over the affected area) to promote healing.
Apply creams as needed: these could be prescription - such as steroid or fungicidal creams - or a non-steroidal cream such as Biteback Silver Cream or simply aloe vera.
Cover Chewy with a clean sweetitch rug to prevent any further self-harm. In more severe situations I have washed the SI rug and placed it in the freezer for 48 hours as this kills off any dust-mites which might be lurking ready to aggravate him further!
Add antihistamines to his daily feed. In particularly bad situtions, steroid tablets may be needed to stop the itch/scratch cycle and kickstart recovery. I would always have a conversaion with my vet about this.
Alopecia resulting from a suspected allergic reaction to mites.
This image shows Chewy - post wash - and now ready for blue and red light therapy treatment, followed by the application of steroidal cream as per our veterinary prescription.
Infrared Light: Deep Tissue Recovery
Near-infrared light (700-1000nm) penetrates deeper into tissues than red light, reaching subcutaneous layers and underlying muscle tissue. For horses with severe allergic dermatitis where inflammation extends beyond the surface, infrared therapy can provide more comprehensive healing support. Deeper penetration should stimulate cellular repair mechanisms in hair follicles and sebaceous glands, often damaged in chronic allergic conditions.
Infrared therapy promotes vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels) and, as a result, improved lymphatic drainage. This can help to reduce sweeling - often a by-product of allergic reactions. Increased blood flow delivers immune cells more effectively to affected areas, supporting the resolution of secondary bacterial infections that frequently complicate allergic dermatitis cases.
Blue Light: Antimicrobial Protection
Blue light therapy (415nm) offers unique antimicrobial properties that can help address any secondary bacterial infection that occurs with compromised skin and constant trauma from scratching. It’s the reason you often see blue light in fridges.
BUT - blue light can really only be used as a preventative measure to help prevent the development of surface level infection. If you have a wound already - and associated bacterial infection - this must be treated with appropriate medication as per your vet’s recommendation. I can’t say this enough - your vet is always your first port of call and any treatment plan should involve - and be approved - by them.
