phototherapy
Meaning of phototherapy: Phototherapy uses specific wavelengths of light to treat conditions ranging from newborn jaundice to psoriasis and certain mood disorders.
Definition of phototherapy
Phototherapy is a treatment approach that uses specific wavelengths of light, delivered through devices such as lamps, fluorescent tubes, LEDs, or lasers, to produce a therapeutic effect. The particular wavelength, intensity, and duration of exposure are selected based on the condition being treated.
Phototherapy is used in a range of situations, including treating newborn jaundice by exposing an infant's skin to light that helps break down excess bilirubin, treating certain skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema with targeted ultraviolet light, and treating seasonal patterns of depression using bright light exposure timed to the day. A related technique, photodynamic therapy, combines light with a light-activated drug to treat certain skin conditions and some cancers.
Because phototherapy's effects depend heavily on the specific wavelength and dose of light used, treatment protocols differ considerably between these different applications, and the type of phototherapy appropriate for one condition is generally not interchangeable with another.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The newborn received phototherapy to treat elevated bilirubin levels.
Good to know
Phototherapy covers several distinct treatments that use light in very different ways, so the term alone does not specify whether it refers to treatment for newborn jaundice, a skin condition, or a mood disorder.
Word origin
Where “phototherapy” comes from
Formed from Greek phos, meaning light, and therapeia, meaning healing or treatment.