RESEARCH
Refining the Technology of Clinics
Medical clinics have long utilized treatments incorporating red and blue light wave technology for the treatment of wrinkles, acne, and a host of skin ailments. These expensive, yet effective, treatments demand repeat visits to expensive clinics, which makes long-term treatment difficult to afford for most of the population.
ANSR: has replicated the specific light wave frequencies of clinical treatments and developed a low-powered, safe, handheld, phototherapy unit, called the BEAM, which can be used daily. The daily use of phototherapy coupled with topical treatments brings the scientific advances of medical clinics to more people at a fraction of the price.
International Studies
Scientists from around the world are weighing in on the benefits of phototherapy for skin healing. Below is a list of cogent studies and reports.
British Journal of Dermatology
Phototherapy with blue (415nm) and red (660nm) light in the treatment of acne vulgaris.
Unit of Dermatology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, DuCane Road, London W12 ONN, U.K.
Study participants suffering from mild to moderate acne vulgaris were treated over the course of 12 weeks with one of four treatment protocols - blue light (415nm); mixed blue and red light (415 and 660nm respectively); white light; or a 5% benzoyl peroxide cream. Participants in the phototherapy groups used portable LED units for daily treatments lasting 15 minutes. After 12 weeks of treatment, the combined red and blue light phototherapy group experienced the most significant results with an average improvement of 76% of inflammatory lesions. An improvement in the appearance of comedones using blue-red light was 58% - exhibiting a modest but not significant improvement over the other three treatments. Researchers concluded that phototherapy with mixed blue-red light with its combination of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action is an effective method of treating mild to moderate acne vulgaris with no notable short-term side effects.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology
Phototherapy in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: What is its Role?
Aikaterini Charakida, Edward D. Seaton, Marietta Charakida, Paul Mouser, Antonias Avgerinos and Antony C. Chu.
Authors of this review of recent studies involving phototherapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris, agree with preliminary data that suggests the combination of red and blue light can be an effective and safe choice for treating acne. Compared against photodynamic therapy and low-energy pulsed dye laser therapy, researchers regard phototherapy as an alternative or adjunct treatment for acne that removes the need for oral treatment and attendant negative side effects. Researchers recognize the combination of red-blue light as superior to blue light alone in treating acne.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy
Combination blue (415nm) and red (633 nm) LED phototherapy in the treatment of mild to severe acne vulgaris.
David Goldberg - Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists of New York/New Jersey and Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, N.Y. 10022, USA
In a study designed to examine the efficacy of combined red and blue light wavelengths in the treatment of acne vulgaris, 22 patients with mild to severe acne were subjected to eight sessions of alternating blue light (415nm) and red light (633nm). After four weeks of treatment using a portable LED phototherapy system, participants experienced a 46% reduction in lesion count. After 12 weeks, the lesion count reduction reached 81%. Severe acne sufferers showed a slightly better response than those with mild acne, and minimal side effects were reported. Scientists concluded that combination blue light and red light LED phototherapy is a safe and pain-free treatment protocol with potential for treating mild to severe acne.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology
Advances in the Topical Treatment of Acne and Rosacea
Roger I. Ceilley
In this report on strides made in treatment of acne and rosacea, author Roger Ceilley summarizes the work of previous researchers who found that phototherapy using blue (415nm) and mixed red and blue light (415 and 660nm respectively) showed excellent results in treating inflammatory acne. In his review of other clinical studies, light therapy shows a significant reduction in the number and size of inflammatory lesions as well as reduced skin oiliness following the second week of treatment. He notes that in some cases, improvements are more marked after 8 or more treatments. Ceilley also draws attention to the newest acne treatment paradigm – the combined use of light therapy and topical agents to improve cosmetic results and to reduce the need for antibiotics or oral retinoids.
