What Conditions Do Medical Phototherapy Lamps Treat?

Ultraviolet light has many useful purposes, with UV electromagnetic radiation providing germicidal and healing properties.  Medical phototherapy is the process of using various wavelengths of UV light to treat certain conditions. UV phototherapy lamps are useful in treating and providing relief to a variety of ailments and illnesses. 

Phototherapy lamps are proven to treat many health conditions, including:

Neonatal jaundice - UV lamps are the main source of treatment to break down bilirubin in the blood that occurs when an infant’s liver is not yet fully capable of breaking down the toxins in the body.  “Bili” lights help the baby’s body and prevent brain damage. 

Mood disorders, depression – many people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) during the winter months with less sunlight. Light therapy lamps help to treat depression which can be mild to severe and can improve symptoms of fatigue, lack of interest, and many other depressive symptoms. 

Sleep disorders – phototherapy lamps treat sleep disorders, including jet lag, by helping the body to regulate the natural circadian rhythm. 

Light therapy lamps also treat a host of skin conditions and are prescribed by dermatologists to ensure the right wavelength is used to treat specific conditions such as: 

Acne – UV light is proven to help treat acne, which affects nearly 60 million people in the U.S. Topical treatments can minimize symptoms, but many are ineffective, leaving people looking for help. Combinations of red and blue light therapy have been proven successful in treating acne to reduce outbreaks and lessen the severity of symptoms. 

Eczema – UV light is useful for successfully treating eczema with UVA, UVB, and narrow-band UVB wavelengths that reduce symptoms and help to clear skin. 

Psoriasis – light therapy helps to treat psoriasis by successfully lessening the severity of symptoms and preventing outbreaks.  Sometimes medication called Psoralen is used in conjunction with UVA and UVB wavelengths to help absorption for successful treatment. 

Vitiligo – UV lights treat vitiligo which is a skin condition that leaves white patches on the skin due to a loss of melanin. Narrowband UVB lamps are a popular way to treat vitiligo and help repigment skin cells.

Ultraviolet medical phototherapy lights are used to treat these conditions and others, such as helping wounds to heal by increasing blood circulation and preventing infection. Photodynamic therapy, PDT, is a treatment where UV blue light is used in conjunction with medications to treat certain types of cancer and kill cancer cells or tumors of atypical growth. 

As you can see, ultraviolet lamps have vast healing power, although the right type of lamp with the correct wavelength must be used to treat each condition. It is important to use light therapy correctly under a physician’s care. 

LightSources is a leading global supplier of UV and fluorescent lamps using medical phototherapy as well as germicidal applications. Our UVC germicidal lamps are used worldwide to sterilize and disinfect in air purification systems, water treatment systems, and surface sterilization applications. Contact us to speak with an engineer about our many phototherapy lamps and our ability to design, engineer, and produce custom-designed wavelengths to meet your specific requirements.

How is Far UVC 222 nm Light Safer than 254 nm UV lamps?

Ultraviolet light emitted in the UVC range (100-280 nm) is highly effective at eliminating harmful germs with standard germicidal lamps designed to emit wavelengths close to the 254 nm range. The specific wavelength is proven to be highly effective at eliminating many harmful pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi, and other microorganisms. Germicidal UVC lamps are used in UV air treatment systems, water purification and surface sterilization systems worldwide. 

The standard germicidal lamps, however, cannot be used in the presence of humans due to the risk of damage to human skin and eyes.

222 Nm Far UVC Lamps Are Safer Than Standard Germicidal Lamps

UVC light emitted precisely at 222 nm is also called Far UVC and is proven to have the same germicidal effectiveness without the risk of human exposure. 222 nm UV light is highly absorbed by the DNA of cells, similar to how cells absorb UV light when in the range of 254 nm. 222 nm light is also absorbed by the proteins that surround the cells, which differs from 254 nm light. 

Proteins are contained in the cell outer membranes of bacteria and viruses, and because they absorb 222 nm UV light, the harmful radiation cannot penetrate into the thick layer of human cells. This protective layer is also found on the eyes, making 222 nm light safer for exposure to human skin and eyes, allowing for use in occupied spaces.

Far UVC lamps designed to emit 222 nm are currently in use in many applications, including medical facilities, hospitals, public spaces, and commercial uses providing effective sterilization and disinfection without the risk of causing harm to human health.

LightSources and LightTech are leading global suppliers of UVC germicidal lamps designed for a wide range of industries and applications. We offer custom design and engineering, and prototype development and are currently developing Excimer lamps to produce Far UVC in the range of 222 nm UV light. 

LightSources offers custom design and prototype development to meet unique customer specifications. Excimer lamps to produce far UVC light are currently in development at LightSources. Contact us with any questions and to learn more about all her germicidal solutions  including the efficacy and safety of 222 nm UV light.