Original articles: A new approach to ulcer treatment using broadband visible light

Conventional therapy-resistant chronic ulcers have been treated recently with low energy lasers or light emitting diodes in the visible and near IR region. In the present work, we studied ulcer healing using broadband (400-800 nm) visible light. Twenty patients suffering from diabetic and venous ulcers were irradiated with broadband (400-800 nm, 40 mW/cm²) visible light. Each ulcer was irradiated for 5 minutes three times a day. Success was defined as the complete healing of the ulcer. A complete cure was observed in 70% of the patients. The duration of the therapy was 8-12 weeks. The new broadband visible light source seems to have a strong effect on the complete healing of ulcers.