RT Book, Section
A1 Conner-Kerr, Teresa
A2 McCulloch, Joseph M.
A2 Kloth, Luther C.
SR Print(0)
ID 1184834377
T1 Light Therapies
T2 Wound Healing Evidence-Based Management, 4e
YR 2010
FD 2010
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780803619043
LK fadavispt.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1184834377
RD 2024/04/19
AB Humans  have  always  sought  the  rays  of  the  sun  to  treat  a  plethora  of  ailments.  The  therapeutic  use  of  sunlight  is  known  as  heliotherapy.  Heliotherapy  involves  controlled  exposure  of  the  skin  to  sunlight,  with  graduated  increases  in  exposure  time  to  avoid  burning.  Due  to  differences  in  the  types  of  light  rays  that  are  present  during  the  day  and  during  the  different  seasons,  it  is  recommended  that  individuals  expose  their  skin  to  the  sun  in  the  morning  during  the  summer  and  at  noon  during  the  winter.1  While  many  remain  skeptical  regarding  the  benefits  of  sunlight  exposure,  an  evolving  science  is  demonstrating  the  positive  attributes  of  select  wavelengths  of  light  on  human  health.  New  technologies  are  being  developed  to  deliver  specific  wavelengths  of  light  to  treat  both  physical  and  psychological  ailments.  The  science  behind  these  photo  or  light  therapies,  along  with  their  potential  benefits,  will  be  discussed  in  this  chapter.