Aging or damaged skin is treated by irradiating affected skin areas with an effective amount of visible light emanating from an optical apparatus and having a wavelength of about 400 nm to about 500 nm. A light source may be sunlight or artificial light, coherent or noncoherent, pulsed or continuous, of high or low energy, exposed generally or directed to target areas, or any combination of these. In one embodiment, light-emitting diodes are applied directly to discrete skin areas as needed as patches or thin sheets such as pliable masks. Green light (about 500 to about 590 nm) may be used as adjunct therapy with blue/violet light in some embodiments. Compositions containing compounds that enhance light penetration of the stratum corneum such as .alpha.-hydroxy acids (e.g., glycolic acid) and/or filter light may be applied to the skin prior to or during phototreatment.