Does LED light therapy work for burns?

Burn injuries can be extremely painful and take a long time to heal. That’s why burn victims are always looking for the most effective treatments to help their skin recover quickly and reduce scarring. While burn treatment has improved dramatically over the years, the aftermath of these traumatic injuries can still be extremely difficult to cope with.

In recent years, LED light therapy has emerged as a promising non-invasive treatment option for burns. Proponents claim that certain wavelengths of LED light can accelerate healing, reduce pain and inflammation, prevent infection, and minimize scarring when applied to burnt skin. However, many people are skeptical about these claims. Does LED light therapy actually work for burns, or is it just another hyped-up therapy with more marketing than science behind it? In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the scientific evidence on LED light therapy for burns.

LED light therapy work for burns

Source: The picture comes from the Internet

What is LED Light Therapy?

LED, or Light Emitting Diode, therapy is a type of phototherapy that uses specific wavelengths of light to treat various health issues. These healing frequencies of LED light are delivered to the skin through handheld wands, pads, and full body panels imbedded with LED arrays. The devices bathe the treatment area in a gentle beam designed to penetrate tissue and kickstart the body’s repair processes.

How Does LED Light Therapy Treat Burns?

LED light therapy has shown promising results for treating burns and helping wounds heal faster with less pain and scarring. So, how does led light therapy work for burns?

1. Increasing Blood Flow
Light exposure causes mild inflammation in the skin, increasing blood vessel dilation and blood flow to the area. Improved circulation brings more oxygen and nutrients to stimulate tissue repair.

2. Reducing Inflammation
The light decreases inflammatory mediators like cytokines while boosting anti-inflammatory cytokines. This helps reduce swelling, redness, and pain.

3. Promoting Collagen Production
Collagen is needed to regenerate the damaged skin. Red and infrared light enhances fibroblast activity to produce more collagen.

4. Killing Bacteria
Blue wavelengths have natural antibacterial effects. This helps prevent infection when burns disrupt the skin barrier.

5. Stimulating Skin Cell Growth
The light triggers more rapid turnover of skin cells like keratinocytes and fibroblasts for faster wound closure.

6. Improving Skin Cell Energy
LED light boosts ATP production and cellular metabolism to aid tissue repair.

How Does LED Light Therapy Treat Burns?

Source: The picture comes from the Internet

Benefits of LED Light Therapy for Burns

Research shows LED light therapy significantly improves burn healing compared to standard treatments alone. Some of the evidence-based benefits include:

Quicker healing time
Studies have found that 850nm red light reduces inflammation and increases tissue formation to speed up the repair of burn wounds. There are few risks or side effects during treatment.[1]

Less Pain and Discomfort
Several laboratory studies examining red light therapy and burn healing found that the anti-inflammatory effects of LED light therapy reduce pain, stinging and swelling around burns. This can provide significant pain relief, especially for severe burns. [1,2,3,4,]

Minimized scarring
A 2004 study on burn scars found that patients treated with 400 mW 670 nm red light twice a week for 8 weeks experienced a significant reduction in scarring, and no patients reported negative effects of the treatment. [5]

Low side effect risk
The light energy does not cause adverse effects or skin damage. It’s very safe and well-tolerated even for prolonged, repeated use.

Less risk of infection
The light has direct antibacterial properties while also supporting faster wound closure. This greatly reduces chances of infection.

Given these many benefits, LED light therapy is an appealing treatment option for those suffering from burns.

Benefits of LED Light Therapy for Burns

Source: The picture comes from the Internet

Tips for Using LED Light Therapy Effectively for Burns

Here are some important recommendations for getting the most out of LED light therapy for your or your loved one’s burn injury:

Start early – Beginning LED treatment as soon as possible after the burn speeds healing. Wait for any blisters to pop before applying light.
Use the right wavelengths – Red light (630-660nm) and near-infrared light (800-950nm) work best. Avoid blue or UV light as those can damage healing skin.
Cover the whole burn – Make sure to move the light panel around to cover the entire burnt area for consistent exposure. Missing spots reduces effectiveness.
Combined with other therapy – Continue using prescribed creams/medications. LED therapy complements other treatments it does not replace them.
Be patient – It takes time for damaged skin to regenerate after serious burns. Commit to the full recommended treatment course for best results.
Get a high intensity device – LED panels used in research provide power densities of 40-60 mW/cm2 for effective treatment. Low intensity consumer devices may not provide enough energy density.
DO Multiple weekly sessions – Clinical studies utilized LED therapy sessions 3-5 times per week for optimal results. Each session may last from a few minutes for small burns up to 30 minutes for larger areas.

LED Light Therapy vs. Other Options for Treating Burns – The Pros and Cons

Here is how LED light therapy stacks up against some other common medical treatments for burns:

Vs. Silver-Based Creams:
Pros: Low cost, easy to use, provide antibacterial activity for infection prevention
Cons: Can delay wound closure, may permanently tattoo skin grey, absorbs into bloodstream with toxicity concerns

Vs. Laser Therapy:
Pros: Can improve scar appearance by smoothing collagen in healed burns
Cons: Only used post-healing, invasive, requires clinician administration, high potential to damage healthy skin if not performed properly

Vs. Skin Grafting:
Pros: Immediately closes open burn wounds, provides new skin for healing, allows for fluid/medication application
Cons: Highly invasive surgical procedure, high risk of graft failure, creates an additional wound at the donor site, significant scarring

LED light therapy is the only option that starts working immediately to improve all phases of burn recovery. It accelerates natural healing processes in the skin without adverse effects. Other treatments may play a role for specific issues like infections or scarring after healing, but cannot match the regenerative effects of LED light therapy.

How Much Does an LED Light Therapy Device for Burns Cost?

There are a few factors that determine the costs of LED light therapy devices:

Type of Device: Panel/bed devices used in clinics are more expensive, ranging from $2,000 to $10,000. Handheld at-home units cost $200 to $600.
Power/Intensity: Devices with higher intensities and power (measured in mW/cm2) tend to cost more. Prices increase with total power output and coverage area.
Wavelength Capabilities: Devices emitting multiple wavelengths often cost more than single wavelength units. Having both red and near-infrared is ideal.
Features: Cost increases with additional features like pulsing/frequency modulation, multiple treatment heads, and digital controls/settings.
Quality: Build quality, light intensity accuracy, and LED diode quality vary greatly. Higher-end units deliver superior performance and durability.

For at-home use, LED devices designed specifically for burn care cost $300 to $500. Cheaper generic red light therapy devices ($50 to $200) can also provide benefit, but with lower power density for deeper tissue effects.

Choose the best home light therapy device

If you and your doctor decide to pursue LED light therapy for your burn treatment, choosing the right device is key. RedDot LED is an advanced LED light therapy device specially designed for burn care. It was developed through a scientific collaboration between researchers and physicians at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Here are a few key points about the RedDot LED device’s characteristics:

Customizable wavelength – The device allows users to choose different wavelengths of light depending on their needs. This customization provides more targeted benefits.
Timing adjustment – Users can adjust the timing of the light therapy to suit their schedule and needs. This flexibility is convenient.
App control – The device can be controlled through a smartphone app. This allows easy use and adjustments.
Safety and effectiveness – The RedDot LED device is designed to provide light therapy safely and effectively. All devices are FDA certified.

Don’t take our word for it – try RedDot LED light therapy for yourself! Heal faster, reduce scarring, and regain confidence in your skin. Feel the difference RedDot LED can make in your burn recovery journey.