skin application,pulsed light
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light therapy for skin condition ,eg pulsed light, IPL for acne
Light therapy or phototherapy consists of exposure to specific wavelengths of
light using lasers, LEDs, fluorescent lamps, dichroic lamps or very bright,
full-spectrum light, for a prescribed amount of time. It has proven effective in
treating Acne vulgaris, seasonal affective disorder, and for some people it has
ameliorated delayed sleep phase syndrome. It has recently been shown effective
in non-seasonal depression. Proponents claim demonstrable benefits for skin
conditions such as psoriasis and, more controversially, a degree of "skin
rejuvenation."
Skin related
Acne vulgaris
Blue/Red light treatment
Visible blue light in the range 405-420nm
has been shown to activate a porphyrin (Coproporphyrin III) in Propionibacterium
acnes which damage and ultimately kill the bacteria by releasing singlet oxygen.
Application of the light for 3 consecutive days has been shown to reduce the
bacteria in the pores by 99.9%. Since there are few porphorins naturally found
in the skin, the treatment is believed safe except in patients with
porphyria[1]; although eye protection is necessary due to light sensitive
chemicals in the retina. The light is usually created by fluorescent lamps,
bright LEDs or dichroic filament bulbs.
Treatment is often accompanied with application of red light which has been
shown to activate ATP in human skin cells, and seems to improve response rates.
(Essentially a Photobiomodulation effect.)
Overall improvements of on average 76% for 80% of patients occurs over 3
months; most studies show that it performs better than Benzoyl peroxide but
treatment is far better tolerated. However approximately 10% of users see no
improvement.[2]
Home use light boxes usually work well, are effective for people with
long-term acne, are likely to be cheaper than dermatologist office light
treatments, and can be repeated over several years for negligible cost. As of
2006 even though they are not cheap, the cost is on a par with the total cost of
benzoyl peroxide, moisturiser and facial washes over the total life of the light
box, and the light boxes may yet get cheaper due to economies of scale.
Photodynamic therapy
Application in a dermatologist's
office is usually much more costly, and not necessarily any more effective, but
the visible blue light is sometimes used with off-label use of aminolevulinic
acid; this causes the bacteria to generate more than normal quantities of
porphyrins and this greatly improves response. Whilst temporary redness and
edema is experienced, this can give over a year of clearance with just a few
applications.
There is some skepticism and lack of data over some of the treatments of acne
vulgaris through visible light, mainly for the newer and relatively experimental
photodynamic treatments. For more information.[3]
Psoriasis and eczema
A feature of Psoriasis is
excessively fast turnover of skin layers. Application of UV radiation to the
skin damages it and thus slows this, and some improvements are seen in the
condition. Light Therapy for skin conditions like Psoriasis or Eczema use UVA
(315-400nm waveband) or UVB (280-315nm waveband) light waves. UVA normally
combined with an orally taken drug is known as PUVA treatment. Narrow Band UVB
is the 310nm wave length and is given as a light therapy treatment rather than
full spectrum UVB.
Tanning
Tanning is caused by the effects of two
different types of ultraviolet radiation: UVA and UVB.
'Antiaging'
Visible red light activates ATP in
skin cells and increase the rate of production of collagen for a few days,
giving a lifting effect. No permanent improvement of skin aging has been
demonstrated, but completion of the healing of skin damage does seem to proceed
faster.
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