Managing chronic pain with light

(European Molecular Biology Laboratory) Scientists from EMBL Rome have identified the population of nerve cells in the skin that are responsible for sensitivity to gentle touch, and which cause severe pain in neuropathic pain patients. The team developed a light-sensitive chemical that selectively binds to this type of nerve cell. By first injecting the affected skin area with the chemical and then illuminating it with near-infrared light, the targeted cells retract from the skin's surface, leading to pain relief.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news