Why Does Phototherapy Work for Jaundice?
The therapeutic use of light, or phototherapy, for jaundice started in the 1960s and remains a common treatment for jaundice in newborns. The light breaks down bilirubin in the blood that makes the skin appear yellow.BilirubinBilirubin, a brownish-yellow breakdown product of red blood cells, can build up in the bloodstream. High levels can make the skin and whites of the eyes appear yellow, a condition called jaundice. Phototherapy converts the bilirubin to a form that can be processed by the liver and excreted.Physiological JaundicePhysiological jaundice, a mild condition, can occur when a baby’s liver cannot work quickly enough to break down accumulated bilirubin. It generally appears two to four days after birth and disappears in about two weeks without phototherapy.Jaundice in Premature BabiesJaundice of prematurity may affect premature babies with even less developed livers. By speeding bilirubin elimination, phototherapy can prevent complications like deafness, cerebral palsy and
