This is not news, but I am only just now getting around to posting it.

I first got the idea about this when I started to hear that blue light killed other types of bacteria in only seconds, such as the bacteria that causes the gum disease peritonitis, then later, MRSA.

A company called Solta Medical did some specific research for their acne treatment product, Claro, and they proved that blue light kills the majority of exposed acne bacteria in as little as 6 seconds.

They tested their light against 4 others, two of which used only blue light, the Evis Marvel Mini (414nm) and Tanda (415nm.)  Evis killed 68.3% of the acne bacteria in 6 seconds.  Tanda – 62.1% of acne bacteria dead after a single 6 second treatment.

My Own 6 Second Test

As soon as I read this research I tested it on a pair of stuborn zits I had on between my shoulder blades.  I used the enLux Hybrid at a distance of 6″ away for 6 seconds over the course of 4 days.  Only 24 hours after a single 6 second treatment you can see most of the inflammation is gone – the zits are on their way out.

My 6 second test using the enLux Hybrid LED

As a result of their research and my own 6 second test, I reduced the treatment time on every acne light I’ve sold since to  about 12 seconds per area with excellent results over the last 3 years. My LightWave CS is an example of this.

What does this all mean for you?

It is safe to say that any blue light near a 415nm peak will kill roughly 60% of the acne bacteria it can reach within 6 seconds of treatment time.  Lights that peak farther from the UV, such as ones that use 450nm or 470nm, will take longer, but still only measuring in the seconds.

If you are currently using a blue light acne treatment product that peaks at or near 415nm, cut your treatment time down to about 12 seconds per area.  You will get the same results as the longer treatment times, or likely better.

If you opted away from the UV and your acne light peaks above near 450nm or above, try 25 seconds per area.  Since your light penetrates the skin a little deeper and so reaches more bacteria, you might get even better results.

If you are using a combination of red and blue light, use it a little longer, say 30 seconds or up to 60 seconds to get more benefit from the red.

What if you want the anti-aging benefits of red light, too?  Then you should be using blue and red light separately.  Use the blue light for 15 or so seconds, then use the red for up to three minutes per area.

Don’t Waste Your Time

Whatever acne light you own or are intending to buy, it will kill acne bacteria in as little as 6 seconds, so do not waste your time sitting there for 15 minutes.  When it comes to light therapy, enough is enough, more is never better.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-03/mali-slt031711.php

http://spie.org/x86284.xml?highlight=x2416&ArticleID=x86284

In this article they are talking about using red 630nm and near infrared 805nm light to stop short and long term brain damage in stroke patients.  The light is capable of penetrating the skull into the brain.  They are experimenting with pulsed light hoping for deeper penetration.  I wonder why they aren’t just using longer wavelengths of infrared which would certainly penetrate deeper.   They mentioned the the cells they are targeting have a peak absorption at 630nm red and 805nm infrared, but if the damage is deeper than those wavelengths can penetrate, wouldn’t less than peak absorption be better than nothing?

Anyway, I hope they get this all worked out and make this treatment available to all soon.

Recent studies are now showing that it is more common for women to suffer from chronic pain due to pain-causing illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome than it is in men.

It was a topic of discussion led by Jennifer Kelly from the Atlanta Center for Behavioral Medicine in Georgia, at the American Psychological Association convention which was held in San Diego, California.  This discussion was based on recent studies performed by the International Association for the Study of Pain.

There have been many different guesses as to why recurring pain is more common among women than men, among which are topics such as the menstrual cycle’s hormone changes as well as a study from 2008 (published in the Journal of Neuroscience) which examined the over-firing of neurons in certain regions of the brain which can cause permanent damage.

What is now also suspected is deficiencies in vitamin D.  The reason this is a suspected cause is that this deficiency is very common among sufferers of pain-causing illnesses such as those mentioned above. Moreover, it is more common for women to experience this deficiency than men – though it should be noted that vitamin D deficiencies are common and increasing in frequency among both men and women.

Sources:

• http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/13/chronic.pain.women/
• http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20031210/lack-of-vitamin-d-linked-to-pain
• http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/05/16/f-health-vitamin-d.html

Vitamin D is now known to be linked to over 200 different genes, in that its presence or deficiency can impact the way that those genes operate.  These genes include several which are related to some cancers as well as autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, rickets, Crohn’s disease and even dementia.

This link between Vitamin D and DNA occurs within the vitamin D receptors (VDRs) which connect with various parts in specific places along the human genome. This leads doctors to believe that Vitamin D plays an exceptionally important role in preventing this type of disease as well as in achieving the best possible health.

These beliefs are not without clinical support.  More than eight hundred studies have shown that vitamin D is effective in the prevention of cancer.  In fact, research is saying that by ensuring that you receive the right amount of vitamin D and by avoiding deficiencies in this nutrient, you can reduce the risk of some cancers by fifty percent and reduce the chances of developing diabetes or heart disease by forty three percent.

Vitamin D is even known to support the gene that regulates the ability to fight chronic inflammation as well as infections. It encourages the body to produce more than two hundred anti-microbial peptides, such as cathelicidin, which is a broad-spectrum antibiotic which occurs naturally in the body.

Unfortunately, new studies are indicating that 85 percent of Americans are deficient in vitamin D.  Experts are encouraging people to speak to their doctors about whether or not they are vitamin D deficient and how to increase their vitamin D levels if it is necessary.

Sources:

• http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Nutrition/Vitamins/cancer_diabetes_0609100640.html
• http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/274802/sunshine-vit-d-influences-more-200-genes

1. Light is light.  Red light therapy can be accomplished with any light source including incandescent, fluorescent, and LED and (cold, soft, low-intensity) laser.  There are benefits and drawbacks of each, but ineffectiveness is not one of them.  For certain applications, especially on the surface of the skin, a $25 red incandescent floodlight will do the same thing as a $350 red LED panel array.

2. Red is Red.  If the light looks red, you’ve got red light therapy. The whole range of red light, from about 620nm – 700nm does the same thing.  Don’t get roped into spending more for one red light that might be 30nm different than the one you can afford just because they say it’s better.

3. Intensity does not equal effectiveness.  Don’t buy a red light therapy product based on claims of intensity.  Get the light that best fits your budget and your lifestyle.  They will all work when used as directed.

4. More is not better.  The treatment time for just about any red light therapy application is between 1 and 5 minutes per area.  Research has shown that longer treatment times are not necessary and, in fact, can render treatment ineffective.   Sometimes it’s even better to do treatments twice or three times per week instead of daily. Resist the urge to over do it, and be patient as your results are revealed.

If you suffer from occasional or chronic insomnia – the struggle to get to sleep or to remain asleep for an adequate length of time – then you may feel that you have tried everything and wonder how to get to sleep in an effective, long-lasting, and restful way.

Though there are many “how to get to sleep” instructions that you may be following, ranging from keeping a regular schedule, not eating too close to bedtime, and even drinking chamomile tea, these may not be giving you the quality of sleep that you need.  Sometimes doctors prescribe drugs to help, but these often come with side effects, the risk of addiction (and withdrawal symptoms) and a drowsy morning to follow.

For over thirty years, studies have been showing that blue light can lead to a more alert daytime and a more restful nighttime.  In the pursuit of how to get sleep using blue light therapy, a great deal of research has been performed, such as the following.

The results of research performed in 1975 were published in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment, and Health.  Scientists exposed workers to white light enriched with blue light during the daytime.  The participants reported that they were more alert and effective during the daytime and achieved a more restful sleep at night.

More recently, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism published a study in September 2003 that showed that the natural sleep and awake cycle of the body is influenced by exposure to blue light.

In March 2005, that same journal published another study that showed that exposure to blue light brought about a more steady melatonin cycle, and encouraged steadier thermoregulation, daytime alertness, and heart rate.

If you want to know how to get sleep naturally and effectively, without the use of powerful drugs, you may consider a product as inexpensive as a $3 blue party bulb, installed in a standard bedside lamp.  By exposing yourself to blue light for a half hour to an hour before bedtime, your body will begin to produce a hormone called melatonin that will make you feel tired and begin your natural sleep cycle.

I’ve moved this article to my other site on IntelligentAcneTreatment.com.
Please view it there. Thanks!

2008. Katelyn & Zoe undergoing daily blue light treatment. Visit www.KatelynsLight.com for more information and updates.

Katelyn Bachman and her sister Zoe suffer from a condition which is known as Crigler-Najjar Syndrome, an extremely rare disorder.  It requires the children to need to spend as much time as possible in the sun during the daytime, and to remain under a special blue light every night, including when they sleep.

This light exposure is necessary for the girls to survive, leading their mother to nickname them “little sunflowers”.  If the girls did not have the blue light therapy on a daily basis, they would suffer debilitating muscle and nerve damage, as well as brain damage, and eventually death. The light, combined with medication for the condition, has been so effective that it has allowed them to be taken off the National Transplant list.

Crigler Najjar Syndrome affects fewer than 50 people in the United States and fewer than 200 people in the whole world.  The condition is a metabolic disorder and is hereditary.  It is caused by an enzyme deficiency in the liver which prevents bilirubin – a normal byproduct which results from the body’s natural disposal of red blood cells when the cells die – from being broken down in the blood as it should.

The blue light therapy allows Katelyn and her sister to naturally eliminate the excessive bilirubin levels in their bodies.  These lights are highly effective and yet very gentle.  Spending 8 to 10 hours under the lights every night (and more when the girls are ill, such as in the case of a cold or flu) is a treatment that is perfectly safe for the girls and they have experienced no side effects.

The use of phototherapy on Crigler Nijjar Syndrome patients is becoming increasingly widespread among in the United States, as well in other parts of the world, such as Europe and Australia.  Blue light therapy for this condition most frequently involves 4 foot bulbs or 2 foot bulbs.  In the Netherlands, there are special 5 foot  bulbs that have been used extensively in Europe.  The ideal spectrum for these bulbs should have a peak wavelength of 450 nanometers, with nothing below 400 nanometers or above 520 nanometers).  At this intensity, blue light should not cause any unwanted side effects.

Sources: http://carmonet.50webs.com/CNS/phototherapy.html and http://www.katelynslight.com/