Jenna Dewan Uses Red Light Therapy to Treat Mastitis

August 2024 · 3 minute read

Jenna Dewan is trying a host of home remedies to clear up a case of mastitis — a common, painful infection that can be caused by breastfeeding. 

The Step Up alum and her fiancé, Steve Kazee, welcomed daughter Rhiannon Lee Kathryn Kazee on June 14 — and while she’s been sharing blissful, quiet moments with her newborn on her Instagram, Dewan, 43, also shared that she’s experiencing one of the more painful potential complications from nursing.

“Mastitis morning party,” she captioned a photo of supplements — including the homeopathic remedy Phytolacca Decandra (also known as poke root), which has been used since the 1800s to treat mastitis — shared on her Instagram stories.

Jenna Dewan shares a photo of the supplements she's taking to treat mastitis.

Jenna Dewan/Instagram

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She also used a red-light therapy mask from Currentbody, applying the face mask to her breast while nursing Rhiannon.

“Pretty sure you didn’t design it for this, but red light therapy being tried too,” the The Rookie star wrote. 

The National Library of Medicine reports that “a study from China indicated that high-intensity red light (630 nM) plus antibiotics were more effective than antibiotics alone in healing mastitis and preventing recurrence. Laser light has also been used as part of a 5-step procedure to treat mastitis.”

Jenna Dewan is using a red light therapy face mask to treat mastitis.

Jenna Dewan/Instagram

Mastitis, as the Mayo Clinic explains, is “an inflammation of breast tissue that sometimes involves an infection. The inflammation results in breast pain, swelling, warmth and redness. You might also have fever and chills.”

It can be caused by a blocked milk duct or bacteria, and if there is an infection, treatment usually includes a 10-day course of antibiotics, according to the Mayo clinic. Additionally, over-the-counter pain relievers acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) can be taken. It is safe to continue breastfeeding if you have mastitis, even on while on antibiotics, and nursing can actually help clear the infection.

Mastitis aside, Dewan appears to be enjoying her quiet moments with Rihannon, who joins siblings Callum, 4, and Everly, 11, whom she shares with her ex-husband Channing Tatum.

She recently shared a photo carousel of herself cuddling in bed and on the couch with all three children, as well as taking a nap with Rihannon and her dogs.

“It’s been a snuggle summer so far,” Dewan wrote. 

And on another photo carousel — full of similar bed-bound snuggle shots with the kids, her fiancé, and the dogs — she wrote, “Postpartum is truly a vibe.”

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