Skin Light Therapy Sample Protocols & Studies
Last Updated 04/23/2023
Sample Protocols
These are extremely conceptual. Every singular device is different. Every person and their skin density is different. This is meant to help guide you to develop your own protocols individualistic to you. I will update these over time. These are intentionally very basic for the time being. These are not complete and do not contain all the necessary information and wavelengths. If you are uncomfortable with UV light, consider blue light or other spectrum light. Many studies show different wavelengths can be used for the same skin inflammation.
The information below is 100% Conceptual. I highly suggest you google your symptoms followed by light therapy. If you need help interpreting something or a study, please let me know in the comments!
General Wellness
Blue Light 10 minutes followed by Red Light for 20 minutes
Dermatitis/Eczema
UVB as needed, over time it should be no more than once a day.
Vitiligo
UVB as needed
Phototherapy with narrow band ultraviolet B (UVB) has been shown to stop or slow the progression of active vitiligo. It might be more effective when used with corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors. You'll need therapy two to three times a week. It could take 1 to 3 months before you notice any change, and it could take 6 months or longer to get the full effect. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vitiligo/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355916
Psoriasis
UVB as needed
Pityriasis Rosea
UVB or Yellow light as needed
Since this is likely activated by a latent virus, it may be wise to also consider near infrared light in certain places away from the skin inflammation. Will add more to this in the future.
Erythema
Green Light as needed
Wrinkles
Blue Light 5minutes followed by Red Light for 20 minutes daily.
Wounds
Green or Red Light as needed. Several times a day is perfectly safe and even recommended.
Cold Sores
650nm Red Laser Diode light as needed, several times a day is perfectly safe and even recommended. Other wavelengths work as well, such as blue & near infrared.
Acne
Blue Light as needed. Several times a day is perfectly safe and even recommended.
Pigments
Green Light as needed
Freckles
Green Light as needed.
Hives/Urticaria
UVB as needed
Dark Circles
The cause for this varies person to person. Generally I like Red light as needed.
Illness Rash
The cause for this varies person to person. Generally I like Red light as needed.
Age/Liver Spot
Green Light as needed
Sun Burn
Red light as needed
Personal experience, red light really does help a lot with sun burns
Dry Skin
Red light as needed
Lentigines
Green Light as needed
Warts
Red Light as needed
There are countless light therapy studies, these are just a brief list of examples
UVB
UVB phototherapy for pityriasis rosea: a bilateral comparison study
Treatment of Pityriasis Rosea With UV Radiation
UVB phototherapy for Pityriasis rosea
Randomized double-blind trial of treatment of vitiligo: efficacy of psoralen-UV-A therapy vs Narrowband-UV-B therapy
Treatment of Chronic Urticaria with Narrowband Ultraviolet B Phototherapy: a Randomized Controlled Trial
UVA
Low-dose Ultraviolet A1 Phototherapy for Treating Pityriasis Rosea
Blue Light
A randomized controlled study for the treatment of acne vulgaris using high-intensity 414 nm solid state diode arrays
Green Light
Combination 532nm and 1064nm lasers for noninvasive skin rejuvenation and toning.
Reduction of pigment. Bright Skin light prevents the formation of pigment in your skin. Your skin tone will be smooth and bright. Research has shown an 80% improvement in pigmentation among patients.
Combination 532nm and 1064nm lasers for non-invasive skin rejuvenation and toning.
Get a lighter skin tone. A reduction in the production of melanin in the skin also causes that less melanin travel to the skin’s surface. As a result, it will lead to a lighter and smoother skin tone.
Laser therapy of freckles and lentigines with quasi-continuous, frequency-doubled, Nd:YAG (532 nm) laser in Fitzpatrick skin type IV: a 24-month follow-up
Decreases age spots and freckles. Bright Skin light improves the skin tone and evens out pigmentation. It also breaks up melanin clusters (hyperpigmentation) and diminishes existing discoloration. Age spots, freckles and lentigines otherwise known as liver spots become less visible.
Q-switched 660 nm versus 532 nm: YAG laser for the treatment for facial lentigines in Asian patients: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, split-face comparison pilot study.
Wound Healing Effect of 525nm Green LED Irradiation on Skin Wounds of Male Sprague Dawley Rats
Increases Wound Healing. Bright Skin light has a sterilizing function and increases cell growth enabling your skin to repair the affected area. Research shows that cell regeneration was more active in the nearby wound area following treatment with Bright Skin Light leading to increased wound healing.
A Prospective Study in the Treatment of Lentigines in Asian Skin Using 532 nm Picosecond Nd:YAG Laser
Evaluation of green light exposure on headache frequency and quality of life in migraine patients: A preliminary one-way cross-over clinical trial
Prospective Study of 532-nm Picosecond Laser for the Treatment of Pigmented Lesions of the Face and Dorsal Hands
Treatment with a 532-nm picosecond laser is safe and highly effective for the treatment of the pigmented lesions of the face and dorsal hands.
Comparison of the efficacy and safety of a picosecond frequency-doubled 532-nm Nd:YAG Laser and a Q-switched frequency-doubled 532-nm Nd:YAG Laser for the treatment of ephelides: A randomized, split-lesion, double-center, controlled trial
Several in vitro studies show that green light can stimulate fibroblasts, hepatocytes (Castro 2003), neurons, adipocytes (Roche 2017, Jackson 2013), mitochondria (Kassak 2005), etc.
Green light emitting diodes accelerate wound healing: characterization of the effect and its molecular basis in vitro and in vivo
Yellow/Amber Light
590 nm LED Irradiation Improved Erythema through Inhibiting Angiogenesis of Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells and Ameliorated Pigmentation in Melasma
The effect of 577-nm pro-yellow laser on demodex density in patients with rosacea
Treatment of erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, facial erythema, and facial telangiectasia with a 577-nm pro-yellow laser: a case series
Successful treatment of facial vascular skin diseases with a 577-nm pro-yellow laser
Efficacy of 577 nm pro-yellow laser in the treatment of melasma: a prospective split-face study
Evaluation of the efficacy of pro-yellow laser in the management of vascular skin disorders
Red Light
Red light phototherapy alone is effective for acne vulgaris: randomized, single-blinded clinical trial
The Red Light Treatment of Small-Pox
Near Red Light
A Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Red and Near-Infrared Light Treatment in Patient Satisfaction, Reduction of Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Skin Roughness, and Intradermal Collagen Density Increase
InfraRed Light
Evaluation of the efficacy of low-level light therapy using 1072 nm infrared light for the treatment of herpes simplex labialis
Broadband Light
Broadband light treatment using static operation and constant motion techniques for skin tightening in Asian patients
Additional Studies
Latest laser and light-based advances for ethnic skin rejuvenation.
Treatment of facial erythema in skin types I-IV using combination long-pulse
The decrease of spider veins and rosacea. Green light is suitable for treating red vessels on the surface of the skin. The light slowly causes the small blood vessels to close down and disappear.
Is light-emitting diode phototherapy (LED-LLLT) really effective?
Utilization of light-emitting diodes for skin therapy: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Narrowband UVB phototherapy in pityriasis rosea
A clinical review of phototherapy for psoriasis
Laser and light therapy for facial warts: a systematic review
Infraorbital Dark Circles: A Review of the Pathogenesis, Evaluation and Treatment
Treatments of Infra-Orbital Dark Circles by Various Etiologies
Treatment of infraorbital dark circles using a low-fluence Q-switched 1,064-nm laser
Home-based devices in dermatology: a systematic review of safety and efficacy
Additional Articles
LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES (LEDS) IN DERMATOLOGY
Please let me know if you have any questions =)