Can Red Light Therapy Help an Allergic Dog's Skin?
by Holly
It's great that you've found a routine that keeps him comfortable. Red light therapy (photobiomodulation) is used in some clinics for wound healing and joint pain, but a 2022 review of the research found it isn't recommended for itchy paws from allergy, and there isn't good evidence for other allergic skin problems. It doesn't treat the allergy, which is what causes the inflammation, darkening and poor coat.
Black, thickened skin usually comes from long-term inflammation and rubbing. It tends to improve slowly once the itch and any skin infection are well controlled. Bacterial or yeast infections are common in allergic skin, and they can keep the skin inflamed even when the allergy itself is under control, so it's worth asking your vet to check for them.
Please talk with your vet before trying a home kit. For pollen allergy, allergy shots or drops (immunotherapy) are worth asking about. They're the only treatment that targets the allergy itself and may reduce his need for other medicines over time.
See treatment for seasonal allergies.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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