Rationale for Discrete Light Treatment Approaches in Wound Care

Abstract

Wound healing is a multifaceted and sequential process influenced by both local and systemic conditions. Chronic wounds can lead to functional impairments, persistent pain, and reduced quality of life posing a significant burden on the healthcare system. In the US, approximately 6.5 million patients suffer from chronic wounds annually, costing the healthcare system over $25 billion. Given these substantial costs, there is an urgent need for innovative and effective wound management approaches. Historically, light therapy has been utilized to treat various skin diseases. There has been tremendous recent progress in light treatment approaches. This chapter outlines the fundamentals of wound healing and examines how different types of light can modulate specific stages of wound healing. These treatments can be broadly categorized based on their biological tissue interactions as photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and photobiomodulation (PBM). Each treatment has a discrete mechanism of action evoking directed biological responses to promote wound healing. Additionally, appreciating the fundamental premise of each approach enables rationalized combinations for optimal therapeutic clinical benefits. Light treatments offer an additional innovative approach to effective wound management.