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Review
. 2018 Sep;33(7):1431-1439.
doi: 10.1007/s10103-018-2584-8. Epub 2018 Jul 14.

Photodynamic and photobiological effects of light-emitting diode (LED) therapy in dermatological disease: an update

Elisabetta Sorbellini  1   2 , Mariangela Rucco  3 , Fabio Rinaldi  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Photodynamic and photobiological effects of light-emitting diode (LED) therapy in dermatological disease: an update

Elisabetta Sorbellini et al. Lasers Med Sci. 2018 Sep.

Abstract

Benefit deriving from the use of light is known since ancient time, but, only in the last decades of twentieth century, we witnessed the rapid expansion of knowledge and techniques. Light-emitted diode (LED)-based devices represent the emerging and safest tool for the treatment of many conditions such as skin inflammatory conditions, aging, and disorders linked to hair growth. The present work reviews the current knowledge about LED-based therapeutic approaches in different skin and hair disorders. LED therapy represents the emerging and safest tool for the treatment of many conditions such as skin inflammatory conditions, aging, and disorders linked to hair growth. The use of LED in the treatment of such conditions has now entered common practice among dermatologists. Additional controlled studies are still needed to corroborate the efficacy of such kind of treatment.

Keywords: Acne; Aging; Alopecia; Androgenetic alopecia; LED; Photodynamic therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Radiation transport equation (RTE). L (r, Ω) is the radiant power transported at location r in a given direction Ω per unit solid angle per unit area perpendicular to that direction; Ω and Ω′are the propagation directions before and after elastic scattering; μs (Ω → Ω′) is the differential scattering coefficient; S(r, Ω, t) refers to the light source both internal and external
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
How different wavelengths penetrate the skin
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Representative image of LED therapy on androgenetic alopecia. a Miniaturized hair follicle; b treatment with red light (630 nm); healthy hair follicle
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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