Glow Up: The Power of Red and Near-Infrared Light Therapy for Skin Rejuvenation"?

A controlled trial to determine the efficacy of red and near-infrared light treatment in patient satisfaction, reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, skin roughness, and intradermal collagen density increase.

In recent years, non-thermal photorejuvenation has gained popularity as a safe and effective way to improve skin feeling and appearance. Traditional methods like surgery and chemical peels can be invasive, expensive, and associated with significant side effects and downtime. Non-invasive options like lasers and LED light sources have been shown to be safe and effective, but they may have some disadvantages due to their narrow spectral bandwidths and dot-shaped emission characteristics.

To address these limitations, a recent study investigated the safety and efficacy of two novel light sources that provide polychromatic, non-thermal photobiomodulation (PBM) for improving skin feeling and appearance. The study aimed to determine whether a polychromatic spectrum covering a broader spectral region would be more favorable for skin rejuvenation and repair than the narrow spectral bandwidths of traditional laser and LED light sources.

A total of 136 volunteers participated in this prospective, randomized, and controlled study. Of these volunteers, 113 subjects were randomly assigned into four treatment groups and were treated twice a week with either 611-650 or 570-850 nm polychromatic light, normalized to ∼ 9 J/cm(2) in the range of 611-650 nm. Irradiances and treatment durations varied in all treatment groups, and the data collected at baseline and after 30 sessions included blinded evaluations of clinical photography, ultrasonographic collagen density measurements, computerized digital profilometry, and an assessment of patient satisfaction.

The results showed that both novel light sources that have not been previously used for PBM demonstrated efficacy and safety for skin rejuvenation and intradermal collagen increase when compared with controls. The treated subjects experienced significantly improved skin complexion and skin feeling, profilometrically assessed skin roughness, and ultrasonographically measured collagen density. The blinded clinical evaluation of photographs confirmed significant improvement in the intervention groups compared with the control.

In conclusion, this controlled trial provides strong evidence for the efficacy and safety of red and near-infrared light treatment in improving skin feeling and appearance. Both red-light-only and polychromatic PBM demonstrated significant improvements in skin complexion, skin feeling, skin roughness, and collagen density, indicating that non-thermal light therapies hold promise as a novel approach for skin rejuvenation.

Red and near-infrared light therapies have several advantages over traditional methods of skin rejuvenation, including their non-invasive and non-thermal nature, making them safer and more comfortable for patients. Moreover, red and near-infrared light treatments are associated with fewer side effects and a shorter recovery time than invasive procedures like surgery and chemical peels.

The results of this study suggest that red and near-infrared light therapies offer a promising alternative for individuals seeking to improve their skin's appearance and reduce signs of aging. Further research is needed to optimize treatment parameters, understand the mechanisms of action, and determine the long-term effects of these therapies. However, the findings of this study underscore the potential of non-thermal light therapies, specifically red and near-infrared light treatments, as a valuable and innovative option for skin rejuvenation.