Phototherapy device and phototherapy method

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a phototherapy device and a phototherapy method that employ an LED as a light source and are capable of achieving an appropriate therapeutic effect while suppressing a healthy portion of a skin from being damaged by light in a short wavelength band. The phototherapy device comprises a light source unit configured to irradiate an affected area with phototherapeutic light in a UV-B region. The light source unit includes an LED element configured to emit light in the UV-B region, and the LED element emits light having a peak wavelength equal to or greater than 312 nm. Also, the LED element preferably emits light having a peak wavelength equal to or less than 315 nm, and the LED element preferably emits light having a light emission spectrum of which full width at half maximum is equal to or less than 20 nm.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.