Research

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The use of light for treatment has been known for thousands of years. In the early 20th century, exposure to the sun and other light sources began to be researched more frequently. Now over 6,000 studies on Low-Level Light Therapy, now called Photobiomodulation (photo bio modulation), all suggest the same thing – Photobiomodulation Therapy can help with various conditions and diseases, such as dementia, tuberculosis, lupus vulgaris, acne, and some tissue problems.

Although photobiomodulation research so far has shown impressive results in supporting a variety of conditions, more studies are needed to determine the full scale of its capabilities.

Photobiomodulation Research Articles

Read what researchers from Mass General, Harvard and Boston University conclude about LED Light Therapy.

The possibility of using light to stimulate wound healing and cellular growth has created a new wellness treatment referred to as Photobiomodulation Therapy. Since the discovery in 1967 by Endre Mester, researchers have worked to uncover the scientific basis for this phenomenon and establish the range of optical exposure parameters that lead to successful clinical outcomes.

Photobiomodulation is continuing to make significant progress in obtaining recognition from authorities in medical schools, scholarly journals, the media, medical practitioners, therapists, and other bodies concerned with biomedical science.

  • Skin & Aesthetics
  • Nerve Function & Repair
  • Energy / Mitochondrial Function
  • Inflammation & Auto-Immune Disease
  • Weight Loss
  • Minor Aches & Pain
  • Preconditioning
  • Other Researches
Skin & Aesthetics

The Effects of 830 nm Light-Emitting Diode Therapy on Acute Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus: A Pilot Study

Ann Dermatol . 2013 May;25(2):163-7. doi: 10.5021/ad.2013.25.2.163. Epub 2013 May 10.

Abstract:

Background
Skin lesions and pain are the most distinctive features of herpes zoster. Light-emitting diode (LED) therapy is an effective treatment known for its wound-healing effects.

Objective
To determine whether the LED treatment affects wound healing and acute pain in acute herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

Methods
We recruited 28 consecutive Korean patients with acute herpes zoster ophthalmicus for the study. In the control group (group A), 14 subjects received oral famcyclovir. In the experimental group (group B), 14 subjects received oral famcyclovir and 830 nm LED phototherapy on days 0, 4, 7, and 10. In order to estimate the time for wound healing, we measured the duration from the vesicle formation to when the lesion crust fell off. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for the estimation of pain on days 4, 7, 10, and 14.

Results
The mean time required for wound healing was 13.14±2.34 days in group B and 15.92±2.55 days in group A (p=0.006). From day 4, the mean VAS score showed a greater improvement in group B, compared with group A. A marginal but not statistically significant difference in the VAS scores was observed between the two groups (p=0.095).

Conclusion
LED treatment for acute herpes zoster ophthalmicus leads to faster wound healing and a lower pain score.

Skin & Aesthetics

Prospective, Randomized Study on the Efficacy and Safety of Local UV-Free Blue Light Treatment of Eczema

Dermatology . 2016;232(4):496-502. doi: 10.1159/000448000. Epub 2016 Aug 19.

Abstract:

Background: Blue light was shown to reduce the activation of T cells and modulate cytokine release in vitro. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of blue light in the treatment of eczema.

Methods: A sample of 21 patients with mild to moderate eczema were locally treated with blue LED light (light-emitting diode, emission maximum: 453 nm). They received light treatment 3 times per week for 4 weeks. A contralateral control lesion remained untreated.

Results: A total of 20 patients completed the trial with a compliance rate of 100%. The blue light treatment was safe with no adverse events and no side effects. The primary end point change from baseline in the mean sum score of the local Eczema Severity Index (local ESI) was more pronounced for the treated area than for the control area (-1.9 ± 2.02 vs. -1.3 ± 2.24). The treatment difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0152, paired t test, two-sided).

Conclusion: In this study, UV-free blue light was safe and effective in the reduction of eczema lesions.

Skin & Aesthetics

Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring

Semin Cutan Med Surg . 2013 Mar;32(1):41-52.

Abstract:

Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) is a fast-growing technology used to treat a multitude of conditions that require stimulation of healing, relief of pain and inflammation, and restoration of function. Although the skin is the organ that is naturally exposed to light more than any other organ, it still responds well to red and near-infrared wavelengths. The photons are absorbed by mitochondrial chromophores in skin cells. Consequently electron transport, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) nitric oxide release, blood flow, reactive oxygen species increase and diverse signaling pathways get activated. Stem cells can be activated allowing increased tissue repair and healing. In dermatology, LLLT has beneficial effects on wrinkles, acne scars, hypertrophic scars, and healing of burns. LLLT can reduce UV damage both as a treatment and as a prophylaxis. In pigmentary disorders such as vitiligo, LLLT can increase pigmentation by stimulating melanocyte proliferation and reduce depigmentation by inhibiting autoimmunity. Inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and acne can also benefit. The non-invasive nature and almost complete absence of side-effects encourages further testing in dermatology.

Skin & Aesthetics

Is light-emitting diode phototherapy (LED-LLLT) really effective?

Laser Ther . 2011;20(3):205-15. doi: 10.5978/islsm.20.205.

Abstract:

Background: Low level light therapy (LLLT) has attracted attention in many clinical fields with a new generation of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which can irradiate large targets. To pain control, the first main application of LLLT, have been added LED-LLLT in the accelerated healing of wounds, both traumatic and iatrogenic, inflammatory acne and the patient-driven application of skin rejuvenation.

Rationale and Applications: The rationale behind LED-LLLT is underpinned by the reported efficacy of LED-LLLT at a cellular and subcellular level, particularly for the 633 nm and 830 nm wavelengths, and evidence for this is presented. Improved blood flow and neovascularization are associated with 830 nm. A large variety of cytokines, chemokines and macromolecules can be induced by LED phototherapy. Among the clinical applications, non-healing wounds can be healed through restoring the collagenesis/collagenase imbalance in such examples, and ‘normal’ wounds heal faster and better. Pain, including postoperative pain, postoperative edema and many types of inflammation can be significantly reduced.

Experimental and clinical evidence: Some personal examples of evidence are offered by the first author, including controlled animal models demonstrating the systemic effect of 830 nm LED-LLLT on wound healing and on induced inflammation. Human patients are presented to illustrate the efficacy of LED phototherapy on treatment-resistant inflammatory disorders.

Conclusions: Provided an LED phototherapy system has the correct wavelength for the target cells, delivers an appropriate power density and an adequate energy density, then it will be at least partly, if not significantly, effective. The use of LED-LLLT as an adjunct to conventional surgical or nonsurgical indications is an even more exciting prospect. LED-LLLT is here to stay.

Skin & Aesthetics

Inhibitory effect of 660-nm LED on melanin synthesis in in vitro and in vivo

Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed . 2017 Jan;33(1):49-57. doi: 10.1111/phpp.12276. Epub 2016 Nov 3.

Abstract:

Background: Skin hyperpigmentary disorders including postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, solar lentigines, and conditions like freckles are common. The light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are the latest category of nonthermal and noninvasive phototherapy to be considered in skin pigmentation disorder treatment.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 660-nm LED on inhibition of melanogenesis. We investigated whether a 660-nm LED affected melanin synthesis in in vitro and in vivo models, and we explored the mechanisms involved.

Methods: The inhibitory effect of 660-nm LED on melanin synthesis was evaluated in B16F10 cells and HRM-2 melanin-possessing hairless mice were used to evaluate the antimelanogenic effects of 660-nm LED.

Results: Interestingly, 660-nm LED inhibited alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells. We also found that 660-nm LED decreased MITF and tyrosinase expression and induced the activation of ERK. These findings suggest that the depigmenting effects of 660-nm LED result from downregulation of MITF and tyrosinase expression due to increased ERK activity. The 660-nm LED reduced UVB-induced melanogenesis in the skin of HRM-2 via downregulation of tyrosinase and MITF.

Conclusion: These findings suggest 660-nm LED is a potentially depigmentation strategy

Skin & Aesthetics

Green light emitting diodes accelerate wound healing: characterization of the effect and its molecular basis in vitro and in vivo

Wound Repair Regen . Mar-Apr 2012;20(2):226-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-475X.2012.00771.x.

Abstract:

Because light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are low-coherent, quasimonochromatic, and nonthermal, they are an alternative for low level laser therapy, and have photobiostimulative effects on tissue repair. However, the molecular mechanism(s) are unclear, and potential effects of blue and/or green LEDs on wound healing are still unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of red (638 nm), blue (456 nm), and green (518 nm) LEDs on wound healing. In an in vivo study, wound sizes in the skin of ob/ob mice were significantly decreased on day 7 following exposure to green LEDs, and complete reepithelialization was accelerated by red and green LEDs compared with the control mice. To better understand the molecular mechanism(s) involved, we investigated the effects of LEDs on human fibroblasts in vitro by measuring mRNA and protein levels of cytokines secreted by fibroblasts during the process of wound healing and on the migration of HaCat keratinocytes. The results suggest that some cytokines are significantly increased by exposure to LEDs, especially leptin, IL-8, and VEGF, but only by green LEDs. The migration of HaCat keratinocytes was significantly promoted by red or green LEDs. In conclusion, we demonstrate that green LEDs promote wound healing by inducing migratory and proliferative mediators, which suggests that not only red LEDs but also green LEDs can be a new powerful therapeutic strategy for wound healing.

Skin & Aesthetics

Combination of low level light therapy and nitrosyl-cobinamide accelerates wound healing

J Biomed Opt . 2015 May;20(5):051022. doi: 10.1117/1.JBO.20.5.051022.

Abstract:

Low level light therapy (LLLT) has numerous therapeutic benefits, including improving wound healing, but the precise mechanisms involved are not well established; in particular, the underlying role of cytochrome C oxidase (C-ox) as the primary photoacceptor and the associated biochemical mechanisms still require further investigation. We previously showed the nitric oxide (NO) donating drug nitrosyl-cobinamide (NO-Cbi) enhances wound healing through a cGMP/cGMP-dependent protein kinase/ERK1/2 mechanism. Here, we show that the combination of LLLT and NO-Cbi markedly improves wound healing compared to either treatment alone. LLLT-enhanced wound healing proceeded through an electron transport chain-C-ox-dependent mechanism with a reduction of reactive oxygen species and increased adenosine triphosphate production. C-ox was validated as the primary photoacceptor by three observations: increased oxygen consumption, reduced wound healing in the presence of sodium azide, and disassociation of cyanide, a known C-ox ligand, following LLLT. We conclude that LLLT and NO-Cbi accelerate wound healing through two independent mechanisms, the electron transport chain-C-ox pathway and cGMP signaling, respectively, with both resulting in ERK1/2 activation.