How Red Light Therapy Eases Nipple Pain and Boosts Milk Production in Breastfeeding Mothers
Reduce Nipple Pain and Improved Supply in Breastfeeding Moms
If you’re following the latest in breastfeeding support, you’ve probably heard a lot of buzz about using low-level laser therapy (LLLT) - also known as photobiomodulation to help with the pain and physical damage that can come with early breastfeeding challenges. Breastfeeding offers countless benefits for both mothers and their babies. However, some mothers face significant challenges in the early postpartum period, including nipple pain, fissures and blocked ducts which can be so intense that they may decide to stop breastfeeding earlier than planned. Red light therapy, can be an effective treatment for managing nipple pain, promoting healing, and supporting lactation. The good news is you can now buy low level lasers for home use and I’ll teach you how to use it. In counties like Austria LLLT is a routine part of breastfeeding support in hospitals and IBCLCs who have been using LLLT for more than 10 years will never give up their lasers (and when you see how it works for very difficult cases such as an abscess or very damaged nipple you’ll be a convert too).
Nipple Pain and Fissures
According to research, the majority of mothers (80-90%) experience some form of nipple pain in the first few weeks postpartum. Causes include latching issues, position, short frenulum, or tongue tie, which can lead to nipple trauma and fissures. If left untreated, these fissures may lead to complications like mastitis, abscesses, and ultimately, early weaning due to pain. The impact of this pain goes beyond discomfort; stress and decreased breastfeeding frequency often result in reduced milk production and ultimately the choice to supplement with formula and/or to stop breastfeeding completely.
Study Protocols and Treatment
A 2024 study conducted on 50 breastfeeding women with nipple pain and fissures offers valuable insights into PBM’s effectiveness compared to traditional treatments, such as anti-inflammatory topical creams. The study divided the participants into two groups:
Group I (PBM group): Received 12 sessions of PBM using a 660 nm diode laser, 40 milliwatts of power, 5 joules per square centimeter for 5 seconds, delivered to the nipple region. These women underwent three sessions per week for four weeks.
Group II (Control group): Applied anti-inflammatory cream (containing tocopherol, panthenol, almond oil, and other soothing ingredients) after every feed.
Pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), infant weight was tracked to determine milk production.
VAS was used to measure mom's pain.
Key Findings
The study found that PBM was significantly more effective in reducing nipple pain, promoting fissure healing, and increasing milk production compared to anti-inflammatory creams.
Pain Reduction: By the third and fourth weeks, Group I showed a significant reduction in VAS scores, indicating decreased pain. At the fourth week, mothers in the PBM group had a VAS score averaging 1.68 compared to 5.48 in the control group.
Nipple Healing: PBM also improved signs of inflammation such as redness, swelling, and fissure healing. By the fourth week, 88% of PBM-treated mothers showed no signs of fissures, compared to 60% in the control group.
Increased Milk Production: A key indicator of PBM’s effectiveness was the increased weight gain in infants. By the fourth week, infants in the PBM group showed significant weight gain compared to those in the control group, reflecting improved milk production. The average infant weight increased by 7.16 kg in Group I, compared to 4.16 kg in Group II.
Is it just me or are you reading this thinking - 4 weeks of decreasing pain? I’m surprised any of the moms continued to breastfeed. The protocol only included 3 sessions per week - why not 3 times a day? That’s what my clients use and it works incredibly well so they can continue to breastfeed while we adjust latch, positioning etc.
Infant weight gain from before the intervention to the 4th week.
The Solasta laser combines low power for breastfeeding support and postpartum wound healing as well as a higher power feature for musculoskeletal pain (those sore shoulders, hips etc).
New Systematic Review (2025)
A new systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2025 took a deep dive into the data to see if the science actually backs up what I’m seeing in my clinic and with my handheld laser.
Here is a quick breakdown of what the researchers found and what it means for the lactation world.
What was the goal?
The researchers wanted to know if LLLT actually helps reduce nipple pain and speeds up the healing of fissures or other injuries during breastfeeding. They searched the major medical databases and found over 100 papers, but they only focused on the gold standard: randomized controlled trials. In the end, three specific trials involving 193 participants were analyzed.
The Big Findings: Healing vs. Pain
The results were a bit of a "mixed bag," which is common in emerging research:
Healing looks promising: In the studies that measured it, there was a clear trend toward the laser helping lesions shrink and heal faster. For example, one study found a significant decrease in lesion size after LLLT compared to the control group.
The pain data is complicated: While individual studies reported that moms felt better after treatment, the "meta-analysis" (where they crunch all the numbers together) didn't show a statistically significant difference in pain relief compared to the control groups.
Why the "Mixed" Results?
The researchers pointed out a few reasons why the data might not be catching the full picture yet:
The Wavelength Mattered: All three trials used a 660nm wavelength (red light). While red light is fantastic for surface healing, the researchers noted that infrared light (808 –904nm) is actually what the literature suggests for deep-tissue pain relief. None of the studies in this review used those specific "pain-killing" wavelengths. My Solasta laser includes both.
One Session vs. Real Life: The meta-analysis only looked at the effects of a single laser session. In the real world, we know that LLLT usually takes a few sessions to reach its full effect, so a single-session study might miss the cumulative benefits.
Consistency is Key: Every study used different power settings, energy doses, and application methods. Without a "standard" recipe for treating breastfeeding issues, it's hard for scientists to say exactly how well it works across the board.
The paper concludes that LLLT is a "promising therapeutic option" for managing breastfeeding complications. Even though the meta-analysis was cautious about the pain relief data, 80% of participants in one study reported that the "laser helped a lot" and provided relief during feeding.
Essentially, we’re seeing that laser works and remains a helpful tool in a birth professional’s toolkit, especially when combined with fixing the root cause, like positioning and latch.
What’s Next?
Photobiomodulation has emerged as a powerful tool for managing nipple pain in early postpartum. This non-invasive therapy not only reduces pain and accelerates healing but also boosts milk production, which is critical for supporting healthy infant growth. For lactation professionals, incorporating PBM into standard care protocols can make a significant difference in breastfeeding outcomes, helping mothers overcome pain and enjoy a more successful breastfeeding journey.
By embracing innovative approaches like PBM, we can provide better support to breastfeeding mothers, ensuring that they continue to breastfeed comfortably and that their infants receive the best possible nutrition.
For further reading, refer to the full study published in Lasers in Medical Science
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40242016/
Tracy
