University of Manchester and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust scientists have developed a lamp which could treat chronic ulcers with light.The Arthritis Research UK funded trial led by Dr Michael Hughes tested the therapy – which combines infrared, red and ultraviolet light - on finger ulcers caused by a condition called systemic sclerosis, where the immune system attacks the body’s fingers and toes.

                       Dr Hughes said the results were so emphatic, the device is a potential treatment for other ulcers, including diabetic and venous ulcers, a huge problem for tens of thousands of patients.People with diabetes are at risk of ulcers or open wounds that don’t heal because of poor circulation, a complication of the condition.Venous ulcers occur when blood doesn't flow from the lower legs back to the heart, causing a build-up of pressure in the veins.

                    The lamp built by Medical Physics team at Salford Royal has 32 different bulbs which emit infrared, red or ultraviolet light. Eight patients with 14 ulcers between them had the treatment.In the study, published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment today, the patients were treated using the lamp for 15-minute sessions, twice a week for three weeks.

        After treatment, there was an average 83 per cent improvement in the ulcers, with no side-effects.Scientists believe ultra-violet light, which cannot be seen by the naked eye, kill the bacteria and reduce the inflammation that prevents healing.Red light is believed to boost blood circulation, increasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients needed for wound healing.It is also thought to stimulate the production of the protein collagen in the skin, which provides the natural scaffolding to help new tissue grow.