Light therapy Description DescriptionLight therapy—or phototherapy, classically referred to as heliotherapy—consists either of A. exposure to daylight or some equivalent form of light as a treatment for seasonal affective disorder or B. exposure of the skin to specific wavelengths of light using polychromatic polarized light to treat a skin condition.

1. Light Therapy
Atrendynurse
B.Sc Nursing

2. Definition
• Application of light rays to the skin for the treatment
of disorders

3. Ultraviolet rays (UV)
• Make-up 5% of natural sunlight and are also
referred to as cold rays or actinic rays
• Least penetrating rays
• Produce chemical effects
• Kill germs

4. Ultraviolet rays (UV)
• Exposure to the sun can be beneficial if
guidelines are followed
• Natural sunlight kills germs and produces
vitamin D in the skin
• Stimulates the skin’s production of melanin,
which causes a tan and helps protect the skin
from further damage
• But deep tanning is another matter
• It is a sign that the skin is under attack from UV
radiation

5. Ultraviolet rays (UV)
Over 1 million new cases of skin cancer are
diagnosed each year
Estimated that 1 in 5 will develop skin cancer
& 90% of those cancers will be the result of
exposure to UV radiation from the sun and
from tanning beds

6. Effects of various kinds of Light Therapy
• Ultraviolet
• Beneficial effects
• Increases the elimination of waste products
• Improves the flow of blood & lymph
• Has a germicidal & antibacterial effect
• Produces vita min D in the skin
• Can be used to treat rickets (soft & deformed bones ),
psoriasis & acne
• Produces a tan

7. Infrared rays
• Make up 60% natural light sunlight
• Long wavelengths
• Penetrate the deepest
• Produce the most heat

8. Effects of various kinds of Light Therapy
• Infrared
• Beneficial effects
• Heats & relaxes the skin
• Dilates blood vessels & increases circulation
• Produces chemical changes
• Increases metabolism
• Increases production of perspiration & oil
• Deep penetration relieves pain in sore muscles
• Soothes nerves

9. Effects of various kinds of Light Therapy
• White light
• Beneficial effects
• Relieves pain in the back of the neck & shoulders
• Produces some chemical & germicidal effects
• Relaxes muscles

10. Effects of various kinds of Light Therapy
• Blue light
• Beneficial effects
• Soothes nerves
• Improves skin tone
• Provides some chemical & germicidal effects
• Used for mild cases of skin eruptions
• Produces little heat

11. Effects of various kinds of Light Therapy
• Red light
• Beneficial effects
• Improves dry, scaly wrinkled skin
• Relaxes muscles
• Penetrates the deepest
• Produces the most heat

12. Light Therapy
• Artificial light rays are produced by an
electrical apparatus called a therapeutic lamp
• In some states it is illegal to cause visible
muscle contractions with faradic or sinusoidal
currents.

13. CAUTION:
• In addition, the client should avoid any
contact w/metal, such as chair arms, stools,
jewelry, & metal bobby pins during the
treatment
• A burn may occur if such contact is made

14. CAUTION:
• Client’s eyes always should be protected
during any light ray treatment
• Use cotton pads saturated w/alcohol-free
freshener or distilled water
• The eye pads protect the eyes from the glare of
the reflecting rays

15. CAUTION:
• DO NOT use faradic or sinusoidal
currents if it causes pain or discomfort,
if the face is very ruddy (red in color),
or if your client has gold-filled teeth,
high blood pressure, broken capillaries,
or pustular skin conditions
• Never use faradic or sinusoidal currents
longer than 15 – 20 minutes

16. CAUTION:
• Tesla high-frequency current should not be
used on clients who are pregnant, suffer from
epilepsy (seizures) or asthma or who have
high blood pressure, a sinus blockage, a
pacemaker, or metal implants

17. Visible light
Visible light makes up 35%
of natural light
Ultraviolet rays & infrared rays are
forms of electromagnetic radiation

18. Visible light
Violet has the shortest wavelength & red has the longest
Primary source of light used for facial and scalp treatments
Bulbs used for therapeutic visible light therapy are white, red, and
blue

19. White light
referred to as “combination light”
benefits of all the rays of the visible spectrum
Blue light
should only be used on oily skin that is bare
contain few heat rays, is the least penetrating
some germicidal & chemical benefits
Red light
used on dry skin in combination with oils & creams
penetrates the deepest & produces the most heat

20. Therapeutic lamps
• Used to produce artificial light rays
• Capable of producing the same rays that
are produced by the sun
• Three effects produced by therapeutic
lamps are:
• Thermal ( heat )
• Mechanical
• Chemical