Whether you’re young, old, or Kim Kardashian, psoriasis has no boundaries—and we’re not joking. Psoriasis affects 125 million people worldwide—2 to 3 percent of the total population. While we know psoriasis as scaly and inflamed skin, there’s more to this skin condition that affects millions of people.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition where unlike a typical body creating new skin cells once a month, with psoriasis, the body creates new skin cells in a few days. With psoriasis, the body’s immune system is in overdrive, unable to shed skin cells as quickly as they’re produced. This results in the skin cells piling up, creating itchy, scaly, and inflamed skin.
Of course, there's a percentage of people who get psoriasis from their genetics; however, many external factors can cause this skin condition, and we're still learning more about it. Risk factors include stress, skin injuries, viral and bacterial infections, alcohol, tobacco, obesity, and medications.
Up until now, psoriasis treatment has been mainly pharmaceutical-based. Most psoriasis treatment focuses on preventing skin cells from growing quickly and to remove the build-up of scales. Aside from topical treatments, steroid creams are commonly used to treat mild to moderate psoriasis by reducing inflammation.
But using steroid creams isn't without consequence. When steroid creams are continuously used for more than two to four weeks, side effects can occur, including topical steroid withdrawal syndrome. This syndrome appears when steroid creams are overused. It can result in burning, stinging, and bright red skin. In addition, long-term use of steroid creams may create local skin atrophy depending on where it's applied to the body.
However, if you're looking for a non-pharmaceutical approach to treating psoriasis, whether it's for your dermatology clinic or personal at-home use, light therapy could be the answer.
Light therapy is a non-invasive, non-irritating, and non-pharmaceutical skincare treatment option for skin conditions, including psoriasis.
So what does light therapy do for psoriasis? Does red light therapy really help with inflammation? Through light therapy, this treatment can:
More importantly, different forms of light therapy can effectively treat:
To achieve the health benefits of LED light therapy, this is how it works. When used, the light penetrates through the skin, reaching the cellular level. By changing the skin cells, it reduces cytokines that are responsible for inducing psoriasis.
“Not only does UVB have a tremendous anti-inflammatory effect, it also promotes regulatory T-cells (which suppress autoimmune reactions) and reduces itching,” says Matthew Lewis, MD, a rheumatologic dermatologist at Stanford Health Care in California.
The exposure to light stimulates vitamin D production which is a key factor in treating psoriasis. “We know vitamin D is hugely important for regulating cell differentiation, but there are clearly factors in UVB light that benefit psoriasis above and beyond any effect of vitamin D,” Dr. Lewis explains.
This information is supported by both U.S. and Canadian psoriasis experts who reviewed literature from early 2008 to late 2017, focusing on light-based therapies. What was concluded was that light therapy was determined to be safe and effective for long-term use.
If you're looking for non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical psoriasis treatment, a light therapy device is what you want, whether it's for personal use or clinical use. If you're a skincare practitioner or dermatologist, consider private labeling your own light therapy device to best serve your clients' needs and get them the results they need.
The dermatology industry goes far beyond purely cosmetic appeal. The increasing prevalence of skin cancer and other common skin disorders contributes significantly to the large interest in dermatology devices.
The global dermatology device market size was valued at $11.8 billion in 2019 and is forecasted to register a CAGR of 15.1% over the next few years. And this only means one thing—dermatologists need the newest and most effective devices for their patients.
While there’s a medical interest in dermatology, there’s also a growing interest in cosmetic procedures. Technological advancements in dermatology devices have accelerated the success of dermatological and cosmetic treatments, and in addition, the rise in disposable income is also considered to be driving the market for dermatology devices. Even so, dermatology reaches beyond skin care clinics, with dermatology devices also being used in many hospitals and dermatology clinics to treat skin disorders.
As people become more aware of skin conditions and strive to achieve today’s beauty standards, they become more interested in dermatology treatments, particularly non-invasive ones. Most people aren’t interested in going under the knife to enhance their features or treat skin conditions and this is where light therapy plays a crucial role in the global dermatology market.
Let’s take a look at the global market and its need for light therapy devices. The rise in skin diseases is amongst the factors that are anticipated to drive the light therapy market in the Asia Pacific. Emerging markets, such as China and India, offer high growth potentials to market players. North America dominated the global light therapy market in 2018 due to the rise in the prevalence of skin disorders, including eczema and skin cancer.
Procedures associated with non-invasive cosmetic correction have witnessed a surge in demand, with the growing geriatric population, soaring healthcare expenditure, and rising disposable income of people in developing and developed countries. As much as the rise in disposable income is contributing, the high costs of dermatology devices are still preventing the full market surge.
Many technological advancements are being manufactured amongst dermatology devices, for example – laser instruments and light therapy. LED light therapy devices are being purchased more and more, as light therapy production is significantly increasing. The market of light therapy devices is predicted to witness a 5.1% CAGR from 2021 to 2027—meaning if you’re a dermatologist without a light therapy device, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity.
How does LED light therapy work?
While it focuses on improving a person’s overall well-being, it focuses on penetrating at the cellular level, rejuvenating and healing damaged cells. Essentially, light therapy works from within. We can use light therapy for detox purposes and for other issues ranging from superficial skincare to healing inner tissue damage, thus strengthening the body and overall organism.
Light therapy can also aid in skin concerns such as stretch marks, providing the skin with an increase in collagen production. Improved cellular turnover provides skin with increased elasticity and collagen wherever the device is used on the body, whether it be via a face mask, lamp, or panel. Stretch mark reduction is estimated to continue being the second largest application of dermatology devices in the market, estimated to reach US$ 4 billion by 2026.
As you can see, the light therapy market is bringing in non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical treatment options for the public, fulfilling both cosmetic and medical needs. It’s no wonder light therapy is expected to explode with success.
Dermatology clinics are expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. As the demand increases, dermatologists need their hands on the latest and most effective light therapy devices. Luckily, Kaiyan products are MDA-certified and FDA-approved light therapy devices designed for clinical use, and we can even private label devices for skincare professionals. They can be tailored to your clients, providing them with regulated and high-quality treatment for their medical and cosmetic needs.
If there’s one thing both women and men are trying to achieve, it’s turning back the hands of time. This explains why the anti-aging industry is projected to be worth $83.2 billion by 2027. With anti-aging on everyone’s mind, people are looking for the best ways to maintain their youthful glow and complexion.
That said, many people interested in investing in anti-aging products are looking for non-invasive options that won’t require six weeks of post-surgical recovery time or monthly injections. While invasive options are anti-aging solutions, light therapy is an overlooked and underrated anti-aging therapy treatment in the skincare industry.
Light therapy uses varying wavelengths of light, emitting them onto the skin. The light penetrates through the layers of the skin, stimulating cellular regeneration and heals damaged tissues. While highly noted for its effectiveness for collagen production and tissue repair, it’s also ideal for reducing damage from acne, and eliminating wrinkles, inflammation, and age spots.
While there are various light therapy devices on the market, some are standing out among the rest. Aduro's highly-rated 7+1 facial mask, eyewear, and handheld devices help combat skin imperfections and reduce aging signs.
Aduro's light therapy uses different color and color combinations to target various skin conditions. In the 7+1 facial mask, each color offers a different treatment:
Red: increases collagen production for fuller and younger looking skin.
Blue: eliminates acne-casuing bacteria and reduces the appearance of acne.
Green: balances the skin’s complexion.
Yellow: reduces redness from inflammation and rosacea.
Orange: revitalizes the skin and adds glow.
Cyan: calms and soothes irritated skin.
Purple: promotes cell rejuvenation.
Infrared: amplifies desired results.
Users can either opt for one specific color or a combination of colors to tackle their skin’s needs.
“I originally purchased it to calm down my acne problem. And I am not getting any younger so all other lights, including wrinkle reducer will be a great help for my skin. The mask isn't heavy to wear. You can wear it while you are meditating, doing sit-down exercises and or other stuff.”
-Sandra G., verified buyer
As most people have more than one skin condition they’d like to treat, light therapy provides an all-in-one treatment for your clients. The 7+1 facial mask is intended for professional use, and gives equal coverage to the entire face. However, for clients looking for spot treatment on specific areas, handheld and eyewear devices can provide targeted treatment to areas with redness, inflammation, and discomfort.
“I purchased this for a recent flare of roceacea I got from using too many ordinary acids on my skin. I stripped the skin barrier and ended up with redness and red spots. I use the green, orange and blue and violet colour each morning for 1 minute each and notice skin evenness and definite reduction in roceacea I also use it after microneedling and it calm the red down.”
- Sonia M., verified buyer
As more celebrities are turning to light therapy, people are becoming aware of its capabilities as a non-invasive treatment and are looking at light therapy as a solution to their skincare troubles.
For clients looking for a relaxing facial experience with the added benefits of reducing their skincare imperfections, light therapy is the best solution. Kayian Medical produces medical-grade laser light devices for the skincare industry. All Kayian light therapy devices are MDA-certified and FDA-approved, ensuring your clients' high quality and results. Keep them coming back with skincare therapy that works.
Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin condition affecting approximately 5% of the world population. Therapeutic approaches to rosacea are focused on symptom suppression employing anti-inflammatory agents. Photodynamic therapy, especially light-emitting diodes, has been introduced as a valid alternative to conventional therapy.
Because of rosacea's potential complexity, it has been classified into subtypes according to signs and symptoms that often occur together. Patients may have characteristics of more than one subtype at the same time. Although the cause of rosacea is unknown, several possibilities are currently being studied, including flushing, inflammatory pathways, and Demodex mites. Simultaneously, a growing range of therapies is available to address rosacea's signs and symptoms. While your doctor will tailor medical therapy to your individual case, treatment options may often be keyed to standard subtypes and level of severity.1
As with any medical therapy, outcomes of rosacea treatment may vary from case to case. Compliance with therapy — using your medication as your doctor prescribes — is an important key to success. Please consult a dermatologist or other physician to determine the appropriate therapy for your individual case.
Subtype 1 (erythematotelangiectatic) rosacea is characterized by flushing and persistent facial redness. Visible blood vessels may also be present, and facial discomfort is common.
Research into the physical processes involved in rosacea has recently led to new prescription therapy to relieve facial redness. It may also be important for you to identify and avoid lifestyle and environmental factors that trigger flushing or irritating your skin. The most common factors are covered in Rosacea Triggers, and a Rosacea Diary is available to help you identify and avoid those factors that affect your individual case.
The appearance of flushing, redness, and visible blood vessels may also be concealed with cosmetics, and facial discomfort may benefit from appropriate skincare, both discussed under Skin Care & Cosmetics.
Visible blood vessels and severe background redness may be reduced with lasers or intense pulsed light therapy. Several sessions are typically required for satisfactory results, and touch-up sessions may later be needed as the underlying disease process is still present.
In specific cases, extensive flushing may be moderated somewhat through the use of certain drugs.
Subtype 2 (papulopustular) rosacea is characterized by persistent facial redness and acne-like bumps and pimples and is often seen after or at the same time as subtype 1. Fortunately, however, several medications have been extensively studied and approved for this common form of rosacea and may also be used on a long-term basis to prevent symptoms recurrence.
In mild to moderate cases, doctors often prescribe oral and topical rosacea therapy to bring the condition under immediate control, followed by long-term use of topical therapy alone to maintain remission. A version of oral therapy with less risk of microbial resistance has also been developed specifically for rosacea and is safe for long-term use.
Higher doses of oral antibiotics may be prescribed, and other drugs may be used for patients who are unresponsive to conventional treatments.
Subtype 3 (phymatous) rosacea is characterized by skin thickening and enlargement, most frequently around the nose. This condition develops primarily in men. Although mild cases may be treated with medications, moderate to severe manifestations, typically require surgery.
A wide range of surgical options is available, including cryosurgery, radiofrequency ablation, electrosurgery tangential excision combined with scissor sculpturing, and skin grafting. A surgical laser may be used as a bloodless scalpel to remove excess tissue and recontour the nose, often followed by dermabrasion.
Subtype 4 (ocular) rosacea is characterized by any one of many eye symptoms, including a watery or bloodshot appearance, foreign body sensation, burning or stinging, dryness, itching, light sensitivity, and blurred vision. A history of having styles is a strong indication and has “dry eye” or blepharitis.
Treatment for mild to moderate ocular rosacea may include artificial tears, oral antibiotics, and the eyelashes' daily cleansing with baby shampoo on a wet washcloth. More severe cases should be examined by an eye specialist, who may prescribe ophthalmic treatments, as potential corneal complications may involve visual acuity loss.
Currently, there are two traditional treating methods, such as medications and physical treatment. Doctors can prescribe medications. Usually, the medications are antibiotics. The thing is, however, there are side effects from the antibiotics. Additionally, there is no proof that Rosacea is a bacterial condition. So the effectiveness of treatment could remain uncertain. Plus, going to see a doctor can be time-consuming & money consuming.
Physical treatment can be soup or gel to help better improve the skin. However, people have different skin types. Usually, it is super expensive to diagnose the skin condition in great detail; people have different skin types. The wrong usage of beauty products could lead to worsen skin problems or increase sensitivity.
Several therapeutic approaches are currently available for treating rosacea, and they are mainly aimed at controlling disease symptoms. The therapeutic plan has to be adapted to the rosacea subtype and tailored according to the patient's dominant manifestations. In general, the reduction of oral therapy in favor of topical or physical therapy is desirable to reduce side effects for patients and increase the treatment's safety.
The therapeutic approach has blue (480 nm ± 15 nm) and red (650 ± 15 nm) LED light-based therapy in patients affected by rosacea. Previous research reported the efficacy of red and blue light coupled with mild to moderate acne lesions. Blue light (400–470 nm), due to its lower penetration, is useful in such skin conditions related to the skin's epidermis layer; therefore, it can also interfere with human sebocyte proliferation. On the other hand, red light (630 nm) is reported to affect sebum production significantly. The benefits deriving from PDT using LEDs are not limited to its efficacy but are also related to its safety and tolerance by patients; therefore, its advantages can be extended to a broad range of dermatological conditions.
Two AM, Wu W, Gallo RL, Hata TR. Rosacea: part I. Introduction, categorization, histology, pathogenesis, and risk factors. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015;72(5):749–58. quiz 759–60. PMID: 25890455
Plewig G, Kligman AM. History of Acne and Rosacea. In: ACNE and ROSACEA. Berlin: Springer; 2000.
Odom R, Dahl M, Dover J, Draelos Z, Drake L, Macsai M, Powell F, Thiboutot D, Webster GF, Wilkin J. Standard management options for rosacea, part 2: Options according to subtype. Cutis, 2009;84:97–104.
Kolontaja-Zauber, I., Ināra Ančupāne, Andra Dērveniece, Aija Žileviča, & Ilze Ķikuste. (, 2018). Impact of intense pulsed light therapy on the quality of life of rosacea patients. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of ences Section B Natural Exact and Applied sciences, 72(1), 9–15.
Kim, B. Y., Moon, H. R., & Ryu, H. J. . (2018). Comparative efficacy of short-pulsed intense pulsed light and pulsed dye laser to treat rosacea. Journal of Cosmetic & Laser Therapy, 1–6.
Bo, Young, Kim, Hye-Rim, Moon, & Hwa, et al. (2018). Comparative efficacy of short-pulsed intense pulsed light and pulsed dye laser to treat rosacea. Journal of Cosmetic & Laser Therapy Official Publication of the European Society for Laser Dermatology.
Smith, J. P. K. . (1984). The eyes have it: young children’s discrimination of age in masked and unmasked facial photographs. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology.
Dr. Claudia Aguirre which has a Ph.D. in neuroscience from USC and travels the world lecturing on a broad range of topics from neuroscience to skin care has been researching the power of the skin and its connection with the brain.
The skin is highly innervated and intricately connected to the brain and central nervous system, just as other sensory organs are. Dr. Claudia Aguirre is discovering that the skin has a lot of neuro potential, or neuroplasticity, that has gone unrecognized. For example, just as our eyes have receptors that transduce light photons into signals to the brain that we process as vision, we’re discovering that our skin also has light receptors. Although we don’t yet know how they work, we speculate that they might be signaling the brain to make systemic changes that affect the full nervous system. Similarly, olfactory receptors in the hair follicles, just as we do in the nose.
Another example is touch, for which our skin is the primary sense organ. Skin is also our largest organ, which gives us a clue as to how important touch is. Different receptors in the skin can tell us not only whether what we touch is hot or cold, rough or smooth. Skin can even sense the intention behind the touch. A gentle touch feels much different than an aggressive one. We can tell whether the person giving us a massage is paying attention or whether they’re distracted. Moreover, different kinds of touch elicit different biochemical and hormonal responses, which have systemic results. A hug or kiss stimulates the release of oxytocin, the bonding hormone, through the bloodstream, while a punch or shove will release adrenaline and cortisol. All of these capabilities are what we say by the hidden brain in the skin.
The skin is connected to the nervous system; it’s connected to the endocrine system. The skin is impacted by our emotional states and, conversely, our skin can impact how we feel about ourselves. Cultural stress and anxiety can trigger or aggravate many skin conditions—from acne to eczema to herpes, psoriasis, and rosacea. Conversely, a disfiguring skin condition can trigger stress, anxiety, depression, and even suicide. Chronic, generalized anxiety can create chronic inflammation and exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions, such as the ones mentioned previously. Chronic stress can result in chronic anxiety, hypervigilance, poor sleep, and a whole cascade of effects resulting in a constant breakdown of tissues and organs, including the skin. There’s a whole new field of medicine being developed called psychodermatology, which is the study and treatment of the psychological component of skin conditions. Better understanding of the neuropotential of skin also opens the possibility of whole new avenues of treatment with light therapy for many of our chronic conditions.
In Kaiyan Medical we have understood that neuroscience should absolutely be part of the conversation about skincare and beauty because the brain and the skin are intimately connected. Skincare is important not only for the skin, but also the brain. That's why we keep developing light therapy devices for skin and brain. In Kaiyan we always recommend to listen for all the little signs that your skin tells you that you tend to ignore. You get a rash, and you brush it off: “Maybe it’s just dry out. Maybe I need to switch creams.” But if it occurs repeatedly, you need to look more closely and ask, “What could my skin be trying to tell me?” Are you repressing emotions? Is there a relationship issue you’re avoiding? Is there some other life circumstance that’s “gotten under your skin”? The body has a wisdom we should listen to.
Skincare doesn’t just affect the way you look. It also plays a huge role in your overall health — from body temperature to hormone regulation to your immune system. If you’re into skincare as much as we are, one of the many ways that can help you keep your skin healthy is red light therapy. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into why you should take care of your skin, and we’ll also discuss how red light therapy devices can help you achieve your skin goals.
Are you ready? Let’s go straight into it.
As the largest organ in our body, your skin is your body’s first defense line to bacteria, germs, viruses, etc. It’s a vital part of the immune system and some processes in your body, such as temperature control, blood circulation, and hormone production.
Main Functions of the Skin
Let’s take a look at the skin's main functions to help you understand how essential it is for you to take care of this vital organ.
1. Defense and Immunity
The skin is an active immune organ, and it serves as our physical barrier from the dangers of the environment. It helps protect our bodies from diseases, germs, viruses, dirt, UV radiation, and potential thermal and physical injuries. It also helps detect and fight off infection, toxins, allergens, hazardous substances, and carcinogens.
2. Temperature Regulation
Aside from protecting us from extreme cold or heat, the skin also helps prevent moisture loss, keeping us from being dehydrated.
3. Sense of touch
The skin has a somatosensory system that is composed of touch receptors and nerve endings. This system is responsible for the sensations we feel, including pain, pressure, vibrations, smoothness, roughness, heat, cold, tickle, itch, and more.
4. Storage and Production of Vitamin D
Your body also uses your skin's deeper layers to store metabolic products, fat, and water. The skin is also responsible for producing vitamin D, supplied in the body when the skin gets enough sunlight exposure.
5. Beauty
Need we say more? Your skin plays a huge part in your appearance. Of course, when your skin is healthy, you also look glowing, radiant, and definitely more attractive.
Before we proceed with the “how,” let’s first define what red light therapy is. Red light therapy is a non-invasive treatment option for different kinds of medical conditions. It is also used for health improvement and various aesthetic procedures.
Decades ago, red light therapy machines were only available in clinics, high-end salons, and spas. Nowadays, red light therapy devices can be bought and used by anyone. In fact, you can do red light therapy at the comfort of your home and incorporate it into your skincare routine.
Red light therapy works by delivering wavelengths of red and near-infrared (NIR) light to our cells and skin. Besides helping enhance cellular function, red light therapy also helps stimulate the mitochondria and produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate) energy. This treatment option usually takes only about 10 minutes per session.
Our skin relies on millions of cells to be able to perform its functions. When our cells experience homeostasis or a state of balance, our skin and body perform (and look) better. And as mentioned above, red and NIR light enhances cellular function while also preventing inflammation and oxidative stress. Red light therapy helps make your skin look and feel softer, smoother, and healthier.
Besides, red light therapy also helps damaged tissues heal and regenerate faster. It also has anti-inflammatory benefits, potentially increasing blood flow to damaged and inflamed tissues and reducing oxidative stress.
Skincare is self-care, as keeping your skin healthy also produces multiple benefits to your health. Thankfully, aside from proper hygiene, regular exercise, a balanced diet, and an established skincare routine, red light therapy can also improve your overall skin health.
For more information about red light therapy or to view our catalog of red therapy devices, click here.
https://www.hse.gov.uk/skin/professional/causes/structure.htm
