Light therapy has been around since ancient times when people from Greece, Egypt and Rome practiced different forms of heliotherapy. Fast forward to modern times, Faroese physician Neils Finsen developed the first artificial light source for this purpose using short wavelength light to treat lupus vulgaris and red light to cure smallpox lesions.
His efforts led Finsen to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1903. By the early 20th century, light therapy was promoted by Swiss physician Auguste Rollier and John Harvey Kellog, an American inventor and businessman, as English physician Caleb Saleeby who founded The Sunlight League in 1924.
𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲
Light or Phototherapy is a kind of treatment that uses either natural or artificial light as a treatment for minor skin diseases and reduces the appearance and symptoms of eczema and psoriasis.
There are two main types of phototherapy: natural and artificial light therapy. Depending on the condition, patients are either exposed to natural sunlight or artificial sources like fluorescent, halogen or LED.
Psoralen Ultraviolet-A (PUVA) is a therapy used to cure some skin disorders by combining Ultraviolet-A and Psoralen, a plant-based chemical that makes the skin susceptible to the treatment
Bright Light Therapy is used for treating sleeping disorders like insomnia
Bili Lights are special fluorescent lights to treat jaundice 2 from newborn babies
Broadband and Narrowband UVB are both used to treat skin disorders. Broadband harnesses the power of the sun while Narrowband uses artificial light.
Procedures can take anywhere from a few seconds to an hour. Treatment will span several sessions, depending on the surface area and severity of the condition. Recovery involves applying sunscreens, avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight, and wearing protective eyewear to prevent overexposure that may compromise the effects of the treatment.
𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬
Phototherapy is highly helpful to many people since we naturally do our activities during the day.
𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:
Improves mood and normalizes sleeping cycle
Hamper symptoms of common skin disorders like dermatitis
Reduces skin reactions like itchiness and inflammation
𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬
As with all other treatments, phototherapy will have risks due to prolonged exposure. It is important to know about these when seeking professional help for severe symptoms.
𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬
Symptoms similar to sunburn (burns and blisters)
Redness that fades within 24 hours
Dry skin
Premature aging
Skin cancer due to prolonged UVA exposure
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲?
Phototherapy may be good for many, but some have special conditions that prohibit them from undergoing the therapy. Some of these conditions are:
Pregnant or nursing mothers
Lupus
Liver disease
Allergic reaction to UV light
Skin cancer
Taking medication makes you sensitive to light
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲?
Phototherapy has reduced and cured some skin illnesses and improved the health conditions of its patients. But like any other therapy, it is administered with caution and ensures that the patient has no underlying condition that counteracts the treatment.
Always seek professional help for better treatment and minimize the risks of its side effects.
