The use of light as medicine may be making its way back into the skincare scene, but it has been around for—well, ever. “The sun is your best medicine” isn’t just a popular saying, it’s true. The “invention” of concentrated light medicine in the medical world dates back as early as 1895 when it was first utilized by Niels Ryberg Finsen to treat lupus vulgaris. What happened? The treatment was soon replaced with antibiotics, much like today’s light medicine alternatives being swapped for pharmaceutical drugs. The good news is doctors and their patients are seeing the pros to using an all natural treatment that isn’t a “trend”-enter light medicine back onto the scene.
There are five major types of light medicine that are utilized for several different ailments. The various wavelengths have specific chemical reactions within the body’s cells that allow them to treat a wide array of conditions ranging from pain management and wound healing to acne and anti-aging. Below are the most popular uses of light medicine and what they can offer the world of medicine.
What Color Light Do You Need?
RED: 633 nm
- Linked to stimulating hair growth
- Triggers collagen-producing cells that plump and rejuvenate skin
- Reduces the appearance of wrinkles, rosacea, and scarring
- Assists in bringing moisture to the skin and reversing sun damage
BLUE: 470 nm
- Kills bacteria associated with whiteheads and blemishes
- Suppresses overactive skin cells to treat autoimmune conditions like eczema and psoriasis
- Evens out hyper-pigmentation/reduces de-coloration in the skin alleviating conditions like vitiligo, melasma, and neonatal jaundice
- Can help reset the sleep cycle and produce melatonin to combat insomnia
- Serves as a source of natural light to reduce symptoms of depression especially in S.A.D
GREEN: 520 nm
- Reduces the production of melanocytes and improves pigmentation helping reduce the appearance of :
- • Freckles
• Age spots
• Reddish and brownish patches
• Liver spots
- • Freckles
YELLOW/AMBER: 592 nm
- Increases the production of red blood cells and stimulates circulation helping reduce the appearance of :
- Sunburn
- Rosacea
- Redness, swelling and inflammation
- Broken blood vessels
INFRARED: 700nm
- Encourages the release of nitric oxide giving it anti-inflammatory properties
- Improves blood flow to alleviate pain
- Used for carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, back pain, muscle spasms
- Gum/Teeth care and other sites of inflammation or infection
- Has recently been linked to the treatment of alzheimers and dementia
Sources:
http://www.apirascience.com/blog/shedding-light-on-the-benefits-of-light-therapy/