Blue-light therapy, also called photodynamic therapy, is a medical treatment that uses a photosensitizing drug and a particular type of light. The photosensitizer is activated by specific wavelengths of light that are delivered by laser or light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. Blue-light therapy is used to treat actinic keratosis, acne and photodamaged skin.
History of Photodynamic Therapy
The use of light to heal can be traced to the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece and India. Ignored for subsequent centuries, photodynamic therapy was rediscovered in the 20th century. It is now a medically accepted treatment for skin conditions and some forms of skin cancer.
Treatment for Actinic Keratosis
Actinic keratosis is a skin lesion that is caused by long-term exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. If untreated, actinic keratosis can progress to squamous cell carcinoma, which is a serious form of skin cancer. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has approved the use of the photosensitizer, aminolevulinic acid, known as ALA, for use in blue-light therapy treatment for actinic keratosis.
The dermatologist applies the solution of ALA to the skin. Fourteen to 18 hours after ALA is applied, the patient returns to the physician's office and is exposed to blue light from the Blu-U systems.
Acne Treatment
Acne is a common skin condition that occurs when the hair follicles below the skin become clogged Pimples result from inflammation or infection of the blocked hair follicle.
In the United States, the FDA has approved the use of blue-light therapy to treat mild to moderate cases of acne. A topical solution of the photosensitizing agent, Levulan, is applied to the areas of the skin that are affected by acne. Fifteen to 60 minutes later, the patient is exposed to blue light from either the Blu-U or ClearLight systems.
The amount and frequency of blue-light therapy depends on the severity of the patient's acne and how well he responds to treatment. Blue-light therapy is directed at the sebaceous glands, not surrounding tissue. It works by destroying the bacteria that causes acne.
Rejuvenation of Sun Damaged Skin
As cited in an article in the December 2009 issue of Facial Plastic Surgery, blue-light therapy offers good results in the treatment of photodamaged skin. Photodamage occurs from long-term exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. Some manifestations of photodamaged skin are wrinkles, age spots and uneven skin tone.
Low-strength ALA is applied to the affected areas of the skin. This application is repeated several times at intervals of 10 to 15 minutes. After waiting 30 to 60 minutes, the patient is exposed to blue light.
Benefits
When properly administered, blue-light therapy produces no long-term side effects. Unlike radiation, photodynamic therapy can be reapplied to the same area if necessary. Treatment is delivered precisely to the affected area of skin without causing damage to the surrounding tissue. Blue-light therapy is less invasive than surgery and leaves little or no residual scarring once the treated area has healed.
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