Applications Why 635 red?Wavelength Technical Specifications Related Products

Wavelength 

Red light with a wavelength of 635 nm penetrates into the deeper skin layers, where it interacts with the porphyrines in the skin.

The topical application of gamma aminolevulinic acid (ALA) increases the concentration of porphyrines. Since cancer cells absorb a higher amount of ALA, the concentration of porphyrines is higher in the cancer cells. When porphyrines come in contact with oxygen under red light, a radical oxygen species (ROS) is produced. ROS has a toxic effect on cells. Thus, red light can be used for the treatment of forms of dysplasia such as actinic keratosis or also basal cell carcinoma.

Besides that, additional effects have been described which indicate an interaction of the red light with the cytochrome c oxidase in the respiratory electron transport chain. These are:

• increased cell proliferation
• inhibition of inflammation
• an anti-edamatous effect
• an analgesic effect

There is a lot of evidence, especially for the anti-inflammatory effect: the formation of PGE2, TNF alpha and IL1 is inhibited, as well as the formation of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2). The analgetic effect is attributed to the release of beta endorphines (Laakso 1995). Red light additionally leads to the release of interleukin 1 from mast cells and macrophages. Interleukin in turn activates the release of CRH from the hypothalamus and thus of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system. CRH leads to the splitting of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) into ACTH and beta endorphine in the anterior pituitary.

This allows the dermatological use of red light to treat poorly healing wounds and ulcers. Treatment of sun-damaged skin can also make sense, since the treatment leads to a general activation of the radiated tissue.

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