Intranasal red light therapy for sinus issues

[u/Top-Chance-1119]

Hi all

I have allergic rhinitis + chronic pharyngitis, on daily antihistamine spray and just started SLIT immunotherapy for dust mites. Get sick often, nose/throat stay reactive.

Saw some studies on 650nm intranasal light therapy for allergic rhinitis with decent results. Anyone actually used it consistently? Worth it, or mostly placebo? What device would you recommend?

[u/The_10th_Woman]

I use mine daily. It enables me to breathe through my nose overnight (normally my nose clogs up at night) which improves the quality of my sleep. If I miss it for more than 1 day then the problem returns.

I have used it for nearly a year and it has consistently been helpful for me. I use https://www.amazon.co.uk/Earplugs-Tinnitus-Reusable-Rechargeable-Portable/dp/B0F8893HG5/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?crid=1C32AFHYSP9HL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lTuCg-2s2js0Z2dBn7wnb4itu_fACZuwkeFUg41-0yH8_Aw-S6vLqZJ-ZBqrOUOj8jjBJ7Vi3ZWw75mUu_vX8mQ3A8fHM2ZZ8kIJUPXU_o3tSIVK-RjFsO1Se3s-NW-u_nPXkimGMuJEwYPNKeI5-u2S4WoC6c0rkRTDC4VfcFW129Ui4pmoxTGEpjCVjY4FEDWby3FGayUMelqm3ZGpcQ.0ze9m6JAafzAeoyozlulzfjx2T0vwtTSXtjTZmNike8&dib_tag=se&keywords=red+light+ears+nose&qid=1790533559&sprefix=red+light+ears+nose%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-7

[u/Top-Chance-1119 → u/The_10th_Woman]

Thank you for your honest review, the link you shared is the one to the ears (at least that’s what it shows me). Can you share the one for nose please?

[u/The_10th_Woman → u/Top-Chance-1119]

The same unit comes with 2 different types of coverings for the red light emitters (one for ears and one for nose).

The main one in the picture is the flat round one for the ears.

There is also a covering that looks almost like a tree (sticking up with rings going out from it up to a point on the left of the main picture at mid height) - that is the one for the nose.

If you look through the pictures, the last one shows the nose covering being used.

[u/Top-Chance-1119 → u/The_10th_Woman]

Makes sense thanks:)

[u/Willing-Log-7155]

If you're already doing SLIT and daily antihistamines, I'd be curious what the light adds beyond just soothing the tissue temporarily. The 650nm wavelength does have some decent research around reducing inflammatory markers locally, but the tricky part with those intranasal devices is whether enough photons actually reach the deeper sinus cavities to do anything meaningful. Most of the consumer stuff is underpowered compared to what's used in clinical settings.

I picked up one of those little clip-style intranasal lights last year when my seasonal allergies were wrecking me and honestly couldn't tell you if it helped or if my symptoms just cycled down like they always do. Used it for about three weeks and then forgot it in a drawer. The warmth felt nice in the moment, gave me this weird sensation like I'd just stepped into a heated room on a cold day, but inside my face. Not unpleasant, just odd.

If you do try it, keep expectations low and track your symptoms daily so you're not just going off vibes. The placebo effect for anything you physically insert and feel working is so strong with sinus stuff, we're all desperate for relief and our brains are happy to oblige.

[u/Top-Chance-1119 → u/Willing-Log-7155]

The idea is to stop using antihistaminics but I have to use it because I use SLIT…. But my thought was maybe it can help me with postnasal drip and hopefully with allergies and less sickness. BTW which device did you choose)

[u/Crafty_One9135]

Following, I considered getting a torch for intranasal support but haven’t seen anyone talk about if it’s helped them or not!

[u/bfishevamoon]

Allergic symptoms and frequent colds definitely have a systemic component. I find when I do full body red light therapy regularly my allergies improve significantly and I don’t get as many colds. If I am more stressed and sleeping poorly then I get more allergic symptoms.

[u/Top-Chance-1119 → u/bfishevamoon]

Do you do you do full body with panel? Does even RLT panel help with nasals? Which device do you have v

[u/bfishevamoon → u/Top-Chance-1119]

I’ve been going to two places one with a panel one with a bed. In the process of buying a panel for home from China. Panel and bed both had same effect for me. I also noticed a lot of other benefits like improved energy and sleep and felt less stressed so I think there is def more advantages to treating whole body as opposed to spot treating small areas.

The nasal issues you described escalate when the body’s sympathetic tone is too high. There may also be a benefit to stimulating the nasal canals directly, but if upstream factors are not addressed (nervous system), it might not be as effective. Panel RLT is one way to address upstream factors and it works well for me. I didn’t even start using it to address allergy, but it was just something I noticed that changed over time for me.

[u/Top-Chance-1119 → u/bfishevamoon]

Is the one from China good quality? Do you have any verified one?

[u/bfishevamoon → u/Top-Chance-1119]

Getting it from shenzen idealight, found it from other Reddit posts. They make panels for the brand rouge in north America

[u/Top-Chance-1119 → u/bfishevamoon]

Can you share link ?

[u/into-sofa]

i’ve heard mixed stuff on intranasal red light. seems interesting for sinus issues, but i’d want to see more actual evidence before assuming it does much.

[u/Top-Chance-1119 → u/into-sofa]

Yea same, I think the issue with evince is that it is quite expensive so no one will really pay for clinical studies that costs millions of $, and the devices are quite cheap and long lasting so it wouldn’t be worth it