Combination 830-nm and 633-nm light-emitting diode phototherapy shows promise in the treatment of recalcitrant psoriasis: preliminary findings.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Psoriasis is one of the major problems facing dermatologists worldwide. Planar arrays of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have recently attracted attention in the treatment of difficult dermatological entities, 830 nm in near infrared (near-IR) and 633 nm in visible red. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of combination 830-nm and 633-nm LED phototherapy in the treatment of recalcitrant psoriasis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Nine informed and consenting patients with psoriasis were enrolled in this preliminary study, (3 men, 6 women, mean age 34.3, skin types I to IV). All had chronic psoriasis, which in most cases had proved resistant to conventional treatments. They were treated sequentially with LED arrays delivering continuous-wave 830 nm (near-IR) and 633 nm (red) in two 20-min sessions over 4 or 5 weeks, with 48 h between sessions (830 nm, 60 J/cm(2); 633 nm, 126 J/cm(2)).
RESULTS: All patients completed their LED regimens (4 requiring 1 regimen, 5 requiring a second). Follow-up periods were from 3 to 8 months, except in two patients who were lost to follow-up. Clearance rates at the end of the follow-up period ranged from 60% to 100%. Satisfaction was universally very high.
CONCLUSIONS: The antiinflammatory effects of LED energy at 830 nm and 633 nm have been well documented, as has their use in wound healing. LED phototherapy is easy to apply, pain free and side-effect free, and is well tolerated by patients of all skin types. The promising results of this preliminary study warrant a proper controlled double-blind study with a larger patient population.