Photomedicine is used as a treatment for many different conditions: •
PUVA for the treatment of
psoriasis •
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treatment of cancer and macular degeneration - Nontoxic light-sensitive compounds are targeted to malignant or other diseased cells, then exposed selectively to light, whereupon they become toxic and destroy these cells
phototoxicity. One
dermatological example of PDT is the targeting malignant cells by bonding the light-sensitive compounds to antibodies to these cells; light exposure at particular wavelengths mediates release of free radicals or other photosensitizing agents, destroying the targeted cells. • Treating circadian rhythm disorders •
Alopecia,
pattern hair loss, etc. •
Free electron laser •
Laser hair removal •
IPL •
Photobiomodulation • Optical diagnostics, for example
optical coherence tomography of
coronary plaques using infrared light •
Confocal microscopy and
fluorescence microscopy of
in vivo tissue •
Diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform for
in vivo quantification of
pigments (normal and cancerous), and
hemoglobin • Perpendicular-
polarized flash photography and
fluorescence photography of the skin ==See also==