Overhead lights, traffic signals, telephones, calculators and digital alarm clocks all use light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Medical researchers have also identified ways to treat human ailments with LED light therapy treatments.
Function
As LED light penetrates the skin, the cells absorb it, leading to growth of new cells. Physicians use LED at varying wavelengths in an attempt to treat aging and acne, promote healing of wounds and relieve the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Patients typically do not experience pain or discomfort during the LED therapy treatment.
Research
Patients who have SAD tend to have decreased levels of serotonin during the winter months, resulting from a reduction in sunlight. A clinical study published by BMC Psychiatry concludes that exposure to LED light increases levels of serotonin.
Doctors at the Medical College of Wisconsin discovered that LED sources pioneered by NASA for plant growth in space also improve hard-to heal wounds in patients with diabetic skin ulcer, serious burns and sores caused by chemotherapy.
Cost
In 2010, a therapeutic lighting device can be purchased for $200 to $500. Thirty-minutes sessions of light therapy at a physician office typically cost $30 to $50 (as of September 2010). Check your medical insurance policy to see if it covers the cost of the device or treatments.
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