How Light Therapy can Treat Skin Disorders

While we hear every day, especially in the summer months, about avoiding excessive sunlight and the dangers of skin cancer, it has long been known that certain forms of light and ultra-violet radiation from the sun and man-made devices can actually be beneficial to many different skin disorders. This light therapy has grown in both scope and practice and is currently helping thousands of people with medical-grade and cosmetic skin problems. Light therapy comes in several different sources and versions depending on the specific skin condition being treated and the severity of the problem. Among the conditions light therapy is currently being prescribed are acne, psoriasis, eczema, neo-natal jaundice, age and liver spots, fine wrinkles, freckles, birth marks, and facial flushing.

The most radical and scientifically tested methods of light therapy is use to treat psoriasis and to a lesser extent, eczema. Sufferers of psoriasis with their red blotchy skin and build-up of scales have found that full-spectrum and UV light can help to relieve and clear up the unsightly affects of the disease. I have suffered from psoriasis of medium intensity myself for over 7 years and have found that this is true. Before even reading about the medical treatments, living in Florida, I have found that after a day lying in the sun on the beach and swimming in the salt water of the Gulf of Mexico, the next weeks have seen my condition in remission. I have since come to discover that lighting treatments in rooms or with lamps similar to tanning beds are also being used in the treatment of psoriasis. This is usually in combination with pharmaceutical creams, ointments, and medications. The UVA and UVB waves act to suppress the immune system to a degree that is not detrimental to health but to provide relief from psoriasis, especially in combination with an oral medication. This treatment has become known as PUVA.

Other forms of light treatment are in high-energy emissions in the red or blue spectrum using a focused device of LED lights. This is used primarily in the treatment of acne. The blue spectrum light used in 3-day treatments is shown to reduce bacteria in the pores by up to 99.9%. The red spectrum treatment is used to activate ATP in the skin to further improve beneficial responses. After 3 months of treatment, up to 80% of patients have marked improvement over their acne conditions. Home devices that emit this light are now being widely used as well. There are, however, some contraindications and dangers in certain patients. This treatment is not to be used by pregnant women, those suffering from epilepsy, and those with thyroid conditions amongst others.

Very similar to the acne treatment, is Intense Pulse Light Therapy. IPL works much like laser treatments, but can be more effective for many skin conditions such as age spots, moles, freckles, birth marks, and sun spots. This high energy light is used to break apart certain pigments in the skin that are causing these problems. The pigments are then processed by the body and discarded naturally as waste.

Anyone who suffering from one of these unsightly and problematic skin conditions should consult with their doctor or skin specialist about one of the many forms of light therapy to treat their condition. Many have found relief in this light therapy where other treatments have failed.