Provided by: Healthwise

Phototherapy is the use of ultraviolet (UV) light to slow the rapid growth of new skin cells. This is helpful in treating psoriasis, which causes skin cells to grow too rapidly. There are two types of ultraviolet (UV) light therapy: ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA).

While many doctors prescribe topical ointments to treat psoriasis, it may be surprising to the general public who is accustomed to taking pills or using creams for skin problems that phototherapy, or treatment with light, is an effective treatment for a number of skin diseases, including psoriasis.

Not only is there prescribed light therapy for acne, there is also light therapy for skin rejuvenation, which some patients claim can help make skin appear younger and more supple.

Americans are catching up with Europeans' acceptance of light therapy as a tool to combat the visible signs of aging. Benefits include increased skin firmness and hydration, improved tone and texture, reduced hyper-pigmentation, diminished fine lines and wrinkles, and reduced pore size.

Light therapy is defined as exposure to specific wavelengths of light for a prescribed amount of time to treat specific health conditions. But, to a growing number of customers, light therapy simply means clear, rejuvenated and youthful-looking skin.

The treatment (lLED) requires high-intensity light, but instead of lasers, NASA has developed powerful light-emitting diodes for the job. Lasers tend to damage cells, whereas LEDs can deliver light in a way that is less harmful to tissue.

Increases collagen production in the skin and stimulates repair mechanisms in the skin and increases circulation to the skin, which in turn delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the skin.

Researchers discovered that the diodes (LED) also had many promising medical applications, prompting this research to be funded by a NASA

Near-infrared LED light has quintupled the growth of fibroblasts and muscle cells in tissue culture.

Over 2 years, the author treated 121 plantar warts under local anesthesia in 58 patients with Er:YAG laser ablation followed by red LED therapy to assist wound healing.