Local Pharmacies are marketing small devices that shin red light into the nose as a treatment for hay fever and rhinitis. There has been a lot of interest in the role of Rhinophototherapy using narrow band red light phototherapy and its ability to stabilise the nasal mucous membranes. Some patients report positive results with this non-invasive therapy which requires a few sessions of treatment. At this point we don’t have enough clinical studies to confirm or refute the efficacy of this treatment. But one would assume it would need to be administered by a health professional who is experienced in the treatment and not by an OTC red light torch available in a Pharmacy.
References:
Narrow band red light phototherapy in perennial rhinitis and nasal polyps. Neuman, Finkelstein in Annals of Allergy 1997 Apr; 78(4) 399-406
Rhinophototherapy: Gimmick or an emerging treatment option for allergic rhinitis . Leong in Rhinology 2011 Dec; 45(5) 499-506.
