Eczema is an inflammatory skin disorder that results from hypersensitivity in the skin. It runs in families. The skin becomes itchy and scaly and can even develop a thickening and leathery look over time. Though doctors treat most eczema with topical medications, they use phototherapy too, but not in children under the age of 12.
Phototherapy
Phototherapy is the use of light to treat a patient for a variety of skin disorders and also as a cosmetic treatment. The patient is exposed to specific waves of light for a prescribed period of time. Lasers, LEDs, fluorescent lamps, or bright full-spectrum lights usually generate the light waves. Phototherapy combined with topical treatments may enhance healing of eczema.
Blue Light Therapy
Blue light is isolated from the spectrum to fight bacteria and treat lesions. Florescent lamps or dichoric bulbs create blue light for eczema and other skin treatments such as acne. Treatment takes place at a dermatologist's office or even at home with a light box.
In many cases, dermatologists employ invisible ultraviolet--UVA and UVB--light to treat eczema symptoms. Broadband phototherapy has been around for 80 years and used by dermatologists. Its antibacterial agents affect the immune system by fighting the bacteria that the body's antibodies are attacking. The attack of the antibodies causes the inflammation. Phototherapy works well in thwarting these overstated immune attacks. Narrowband phototherapy is newer and thought to be even more effective, but it can cause serious burning.
Red Light Therapy
Red light works to stimulate cell growth and has an anti-inflammatory effect. According to Lager Engineering, NASA developed this therapy and proved that wounds heal 50 percent faster with red light. It also helps to relieve pain. Red light therapy improves response rates for eczema and other skin conditions when combined with blue light therapy.
Disadvantages
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic do not consider light therapy a cure but a treatment to control symptoms, although phototherapy is considered safe. Phototherapy generally follows medicinal treatments that lacked success. As with any medical procedure, it has risks attached. Just as sun damages your skin, so does phototherapy. It can cause cancer and drastic sunburn. If overused, it destroys the natural vitamins A and C in your body, and loss of collagen may cause skin to become dry and wrinkled. Phototherapy can affect DNA, but natural cell enzymes repair the damage.
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