LEDs aim to ease or eradicate patients’ psoriasis
Psoriasis is a debilitating skin condition affecting up to 3% of the UK’s population. But a new treatment option for patients using blue LED lights aims to reduce the symptoms or eradicate them entirely, as health correspondent Mark Smith explains
Almost two million people in the UK live with a genetic skin disease called psoriasis. The name is taken from ancient Greek, with “psora” meaning “itch” and “sis” meaning “condition”.
It occurs when the immune system attacks healthy skin cells by mistake, speeding up the skin’s replacement process.
This quick accumulation of skin cells builds up to form red, flaky, crusty patches – or plaques – covered with silvery scales.
Plaques can occur on all parts of the body including the hands, feet, elbows, legs, torso and heads.
Some only experience minor irritation from the condition, but for others it can have a major impact on their quality of life.
In some cases the plaques can crack and bleed, leaving sufferers battling a range of emotions that can have lasting effects on their overall wellbeing.
A spokesperson for the Psoriasis Association said: “Recent research has found that the psoriasis-causing changes in the skin begin in the immune system when certain immune cells (T cells) are triggered and become overactive.
“The T cells act as if they were fighting an infection or healing a wound, which leads to them producing inflammatory chemicals, again leading to the rapid growth of skin cells causing psoriatic plaques to form.
“You may therefore hear psoriasis being described as an ‘auto-immune disease’ or ‘immune-mediated condition.’
“It is not yet clear what initially triggers the immune system to act in this way.
“Some people will have a family history of the condition, but others may not.
“A flare-up of psoriasis can be triggered by a number of factors, such as stress or anxiety, injury to skin, hormonal changes, or certain infections or medications.”
Psoriasis can occur at any age, although there seem to be two “peaks” from the late teens to early 30s, and between the ages of around 50 and 60.
While there is no cure, it can be managed successfully through trial and error and through appointments with a dermatologist.
But across the UK there are said to be widespread misconceptions around the condition and its impact on people’s lives.
Psoriasis expert, Dr Max Pemberton, said: “Psoriasis is one of those conditions that is gravely misunderstood.
“Too often it’s dismissed as little more than a rash or dry skin. Many sufferers are too embarrassed and ashamed to leave the house, worried that people will think the rash means they are dirty or infectious.”
According to a survey carried out by Philips, nearly one in 10 psoriasis patients in Wales won’t go to on holiday (10%), to the gym (11%) or meet up with their friends (9%) due to the physical and emotional impact of the debilitating condition.
Furthermore, two in five people (40%) admitted they feel embarrassed to talk about their lifelong battle with psoriasis and a quarter (28%) feel stuck in a helpless treatment loop with limited options.
Despite 1.8 million people in UK having it, nearly a third of people (28%) have never told anyone they suffer from psoriasis.
Dermatologist, Professor Rino Cerio, said “greasy, time-consuming and prescription-only topical treatments” have sufferers in Wales feeling frustrated, angry and helpless.
He said: “The poll highlights not only the social stigma of the condition, but also the limitations individuals feel when faced with treatment options.
“It is concerning that one in 10 have never tried anything at all and I can only assume this is due to a lack of awareness around psoriasis. “Studies continue to show that treating the disease is your best bet to improve your quality of life and reduce the risk of developing comorbidities.” But now, after many years struggling to manage the chronic disease, sufferers have the opportunity to take control of their psoriasis – by using light. Depending on the wavelength, dose and intensity, light can have a number of positive effects on hormone imbalances and the strengthening of the immune system. UV light, for example, has been found to play a key role in regulating mood and aiding sleeping disorders, while red light therapy is used for anti-aging. But skin experts claim it’s blue light that is now shining bright across the health spectrum. Dr Matthias Born, director of clinical and scientific affairs and principal scientist at Philips, explains: “Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been used in households for decades. “Now it’s been incorporated into an at home treatment device for psoriasis sufferers. “The Light Therapy team at Philips recognised the treatment loop psoriasis sufferers have been stuck in and have worked tirelessly to create an effective, firstof-its-kind treatment that can challenge psoriasis. “Philips BlueControl Advance enables users to manage symptoms at home and on the go.” In just 15 minutes per day, per plaque, the device is said to help skin regenerate at normal speed, controlling scaling and redness without chemicals or UV light.
The wearable, cordless device sets the LEDs to a particular wavelength to activate the natural healing processes of your skin.
It can be attached to arms or legs and used to treat multiple mild-moderate psoriasis plaques.
According to a clinical study, the plaque symptoms improved “significantly” for patients over 12 weeks of treatment.
During the treatment free followup phase of one month, plaque symptoms improved slightly further, rather than worsened.
Some 83% of patients rated the usability and comfort of the device as ideal or excellent.
Commenting on the device, a spokesperson for the Psoriasis Association added: “The clinical data looks promising, and it’s great to see a treatment option for mild psoriasis that is convenient and mess-free.
“However, it is important to remember that, as with all treatment options for psoriasis, what works for one person will not necessarily work for another.
“We’re also naturally fairly cautious about treatments or products that claim not to have side-effects.
“While it’s true that blue light does not work in the same way as established UV therapy treatments and therefore is unlikely to have the same side-effects, to our knowledge the long term (ie. over a number of years) effects of blue light treatment are not yet known.”
The treatment is not available on the NHS but can be bought by going to www.philips.co.uk/c-e/challenge-psoriasis.