Effectiveness of Using Low-Intensity Laser Therapy - Essay Example

Effectiveness of using LILT (low intensity laser therapy) Introduction First Condition The condition presented in the picture 1 is most probably Rosacea. According to National Institute of Arthritis and Muscoluskeleton Diseases (2009) Rosacea is a disease that affects mostly the skin and in some instances the eyes. Some of the characteristics include pimples, redness of skin among the light skinned and thickened skin which causes the enlargement of pores as observed in the picture. Rosacea mostly affects the skin around the face and in very rare instances does the skin on the other parts of the body affected. Some of the symptoms associated with the disease include flushing of the skin which occurs mostly at the center of the face. Accompanying the flashing is frequent burning sensations. The burning sensations are in most instances treated with creams. The constant flushing is caused by a condition called vascular Rosacea which is characterized by enlargement of blood vessels under the facial skin which can sometimes be visible as small red lines. Another condition of Rosacea is called inflammatory Rosacea and is characterized by constant redness of the skin swellings containing pus. Other symptoms include inflammation of the eyes and a condition known as telengiectasia which is the appearance of small red lines in the face due to enlargement of blood vessels under the skin. In some situations men may develop a condition called Rhinophynoma which is characterized by a large red nose caused by enlargement of sebaceous glands under the skin on the nose. In some instances Rosacea causes eye problems in which the eyes become dry, itchy and burning. In most instances the eyes also become red and swollen and people develop sensitivity to light. Research has not yet established the actual cause of Rosacea but doctors are of the idea that Rosacea may be an inherited condition and that individuals who blush easily have higher chances of getting Rosacea. The first picture shows a 24 yr old male whose skin around the cheeks is swollen and the pores are enlarged. There is also some redness of the skin. Laser therapy has been used extensively recently to treat various diseases and disorders. Laser therapy involves the use of monochromatic light from a laser diode. The most commonly treated diseases include arthritis, injuries, musculoskeleton conditions and dermatological problems. The basis behind the use of laser therapy is that the light is allowed to penetrate the skin causing the energy carrying photons to hasten bodily processes including the healing process. Photons are packets of energy carrying molecules that penetrate the skin. The cell thereafter converts the light energy into chemical energy which is used by the body for hastening the healing process and therefore the symptoms disappear. The 24 yr old male received LILT 11 times twice a week and after some time there was significant improvement. Rocasea as explained earlier causes a number of symptoms characterized by inflammation and damage to the skin and the underlying tissues. LILT causes increased production of Cortisol which helps the body to deal with the trauma and stress caused by Rosacea. LILT also leads to increased production of beta-endorphins which reduces the body’s sensitivity to pain therefore providing relief to the patient. Other effect of LILT include the increase in cellular metabolism, Angiogenesis which is the formation of new blood vessels; a beneficial attribute especially for patients with Rosacea and the increased activity of the mitochondria which will increase the ability of the body to repair damaged cells and tissues. National Institute of Arthritis and Muscoluskeleton Diseases (2009) recommends the use of LILT for various conditions and intensive researches are underway to establish whether the technique can be used to stimulate cellular and tissues regeneration especially to treat degenerative nerve diseases. Second Condition The second picture is the skin of a 23 yr old female. The skin is characterized by large pores due to swelling and tiny scars caused by pimples. The patient received IPL (Intensed Pulsed Light) for one week and one week later the swelling on the skin had disappeared and the scars and blemishes were also disappearing. IPL is a technique that uses light which penetrates the deeper layers without affecting the epidermis. The technique is used to treat lesions and spots and wrinkles caused by ageing. The principle behind the use of IPL is famously known as photorejuvenation. IPL uses a cold gel which is applied to the skin area needed treatment and then the smooth glass surface is placed on the skin so that the pulses of light can penetrate the skin without affecting the surface. Glasses are always worn to prevent the eyes from being affected by the light. Immediately after the treatment a patient will usually experience some side effects which include redness and flushing of the skin and in some instances swelling. Also the dark spots and pigmentation may also appear darker immediately after treatment. The recommended duration of treatment is usually around four to six sessions and the results according to many doctors are satisfactory. Each session in the always lasts for about twenty minutes. However the degree of satisfaction always depends on the severity of the disease being treated and the number of conditions being treated. The conditions mostly treated by the concept of photo rejuvenation using IPL include damages caused by UV radiation of sunlight which may lead to abnormalities in one’s appearance. IPL treats this condition to leave one with a smooth skin. Another condition treated by IPL is a condition arising as a result of damaged veins and capillaries due to ageing, trauma or prolonged stress. Other conditions that IPL can treat include spots caused by ageing, Sun spots, Birthmarks, Seborrheic Keratoses, Hyperpigmentation and Rosacea. The length of treatment also depends on factors such as the location, the depth and the color intensity of the lesions. According to RosaceaNet (2009) IP uses a non laser source. The first approved device by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was in 1995. And it was used to treat dilated blood vessels under the facial skin. Continued research has determined that IPL can be used effectively to treat conditions like dilated blood vessels, chronic redness of the skin, skin flushing and persistent acne. A research conducted to evaluate the success of IPL established that during treatment patients attained an average of 30% decrease in blood flow, reduction of the visibility of blood vessels by 29% and a 21% decrease in the in redness. The patients under study suffered from dilated blood vessels, acne and reddening of the skin. However scientists still suggest that the extent of success of IPL is still higher than indicated by the research because only four patients were used in the research. The findings of the research are similar to what was observed with the 23 yr old female. After the IPL treatment the swelling on the face which might have been caused by dilated blood vessels had disappeared and the persistent acne marks that were previously visible were not visible any more. Side effects of IPL include skin lightening, swelling and bruising. Third Condition Photo 3 shows a 23 yr old female with an atrophic scar as a result of mole removal. Atrophic scars are deep scars in the skin that appear as depressions. Atrophic scars are caused when some tissues is removed from the skin leaving a hole. The main cause of atrophic scars are deep acne. Moles removal is another cause of atrophic scars. Moles are characterized by dark and irregular spots on the skin. Unlike Rocasea that appears mostly on the face a mole can appear anywhere on the skin. Moles removal is not only due to unattractiveness they cause but they can also lead to serious health issues. There are various treatments available including cosmetic surgery and laser treatment. There is an increasing tendency of people to opt for cosmetic surgery without considering the implications or risks associated with some of the procedures. One aspect that should be considered by everyone thinking of cosmetic surgery is the fact that the results are not reversible. For instance the 23 yr old female might have rushed to have cosmetic surgery to remove the mole but was completely unaware that it will lead to the atrophic scar on her face. The patient required another procedure using laser treatment to correct the scar which is both costly and risky health wise. Briefly the process of mole removal involves s surgical procedure. The mole is first wiped clean using a disinfectant or a sterilizer and then an anesthesia is applied. The mole is then cut using a scalpel and in the process some surrounding skin is also removed too. Depending on the size and nature of the mole stitching may be required after the procedure. An electrical instrument is then used to prevent bleeding of the area. The point behind this explanation is the extent to which individuals are taking surgical procedures for purely beauty reasons not considering the health implications. Mole removal using this procedure should be purely genuine because cosmetic surgery is not meant to make people perfect. Mole removal involves the removal of additional skin beneath and around the mole to ensure that the mole does not grow back. Mole removal can also be done using laser techniques. Treatement of atrophic scars requires that a technique be used to resurface or raise the surrounding tissues so that they can fill up the hole left by the atrophic scar. As explained previously in the explanation of the LILT technique it is obvious that LILT cannot lead to the resurfacing of the tissue. LILT uses relatively low energy that is utilized by the surrounding cells to trigger and hasten the healing processes through LILT also leads to increased production of beta-endorphins which reduces the body’s sensitivity to pain therefore providing relief to the patient. Another effect of LILT includes the increase in cellular metabolism. It is therefore important to note that the reason why the atrophic scar of the 21yr old male did not disappear was because LILT does not use very high energy enough to trigger tissues resurfacing. The condition of the skin however improved because the scars were not as dark as before the treatment and the skin texture became smoother and fine. A proposed treatment for atrophic scars involves a technique known as Ablative Laser Resurfacing. The technique makes use of high energy carbon dioxide which is either pulsed or scanned. Another material that can be used is the Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet (Er: YAG). The basis behind the technique is that the laser emitted has high energy enough to cause tissue vaporization leading to the filing up of the hole. The emitted laser is administered in short pulses that do not lead to any transfer of heat to other tissues except the target tissues therefore ensuring that other tissues are protected. According to a research conducted by Tanzi (2004), the resurfacing of atrophic scars using laser treatment mostly uses carbon dioxide and there has been significant improvement of the scars of up to 80%. The epidermis and the papillary dermis are vaporized and afterwards remodeling is conducted to ensure that the scar is filled effectively. Conclusion RosaceaNet (2009) emphasizes that laser or light treatment is not a cure but just a method to reduce the symptoms, to relieve pain and to hasten the recovery process. Patients still need to consult dermatologists to find out if there is treatment for a particular skin condition. Additionally RosaceaNet also warns that not all people can consider laser or light treatment as an option. The people are warned against using this form of treatment include individuals with clotting disorders, individuals at risk of developing Keloids and people with Insulin dependent diabetes. Otherwise laser and light treatment are increasingly providing an alternative to cosmetic surgery in a number of skin ailments. References Avram, D. & Goldman P. (2004) Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.Effectiveness and safety of ALA-IPL in treating actinic keratoses and photodamage. Retrieved on 12th November 2009 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0PDG/is_1_3/ai_113650112/ Meditech (2009) What is Low Intensity Laser Therapy? Retrieved on 15th November 2009 from http://practitioners.meditech-bioflex.com/laser-therapy/what-is-laser-therapy-lilt-lllt.php National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeleton Skin Diseases (2009). Rosacea. Retrieved on 15th November 2009 from http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Rosacea/default.asp RocaseaNet (2009) Is Light Treatment Right for your Rosacea? Retrieved on 13th November 2009 from http://www.skincarephysicians.com/rosaceanet/laser_treatment.html Tanzi (2004). Medscape Journal. Laser Treatment of Scars. Retrieved on 14th November 2009 from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/467347 Read More

Photons are packets of energy carrying molecules that penetrate the skin. The cell thereafter converts the light energy into chemical energy which is used by the body for hastening the healing process and therefore the symptoms disappear. The 24 yr old male received LILT 11 times twice a week and after some time there was significant improvement. Rocasea as explained earlier causes a number of symptoms characterized by inflammation and damage to the skin and the underlying tissues. LILT causes increased production of Cortisol which helps the body to deal with the trauma and stress caused by Rosacea.

LILT also leads to increased production of beta-endorphins which reduces the body’s sensitivity to pain therefore providing relief to the patient. Other effect of LILT include the increase in cellular metabolism, Angiogenesis which is the formation of new blood vessels; a beneficial attribute especially for patients with Rosacea and the increased activity of the mitochondria which will increase the ability of the body to repair damaged cells and tissues. National Institute of Arthritis and Muscoluskeleton Diseases (2009) recommends the use of LILT for various conditions and intensive researches are underway to establish whether the technique can be used to stimulate cellular and tissues regeneration especially to treat degenerative nerve diseases.

Second Condition The second picture is the skin of a 23 yr old female. The skin is characterized by large pores due to swelling and tiny scars caused by pimples. The patient received IPL (Intensed Pulsed Light) for one week and one week later the swelling on the skin had disappeared and the scars and blemishes were also disappearing. IPL is a technique that uses light which penetrates the deeper layers without affecting the epidermis. The technique is used to treat lesions and spots and wrinkles caused by ageing.

The principle behind the use of IPL is famously known as photorejuvenation. IPL uses a cold gel which is applied to the skin area needed treatment and then the smooth glass surface is placed on the skin so that the pulses of light can penetrate the skin without affecting the surface. Glasses are always worn to prevent the eyes from being affected by the light. Immediately after the treatment a patient will usually experience some side effects which include redness and flushing of the skin and in some instances swelling.

Also the dark spots and pigmentation may also appear darker immediately after treatment. The recommended duration of treatment is usually around four to six sessions and the results according to many doctors are satisfactory. Each session in the always lasts for about twenty minutes. However the degree of satisfaction always depends on the severity of the disease being treated and the number of conditions being treated. The conditions mostly treated by the concept of photo rejuvenation using IPL include damages caused by UV radiation of sunlight which may lead to abnormalities in one’s appearance.

IPL treats this condition to leave one with a smooth skin. Another condition treated by IPL is a condition arising as a result of damaged veins and capillaries due to ageing, trauma or prolonged stress. Other conditions that IPL can treat include spots caused by ageing, Sun spots, Birthmarks, Seborrheic Keratoses, Hyperpigmentation and Rosacea. The length of treatment also depends on factors such as the location, the depth and the color intensity of the lesions. According to RosaceaNet (2009) IP uses a non laser source.

The first approved device by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was in 1995. And it was used to treat dilated blood vessels under the facial skin. Continued research has determined that IPL can be used effectively to treat conditions like dilated blood vessels, chronic redness of the skin, skin flushing and persistent acne. A research conducted to evaluate the success of IPL established that during treatment patients attained an average of 30% decrease in blood flow, reduction of the visibility of blood vessels by 29% and a 21% decrease in the in redness.

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