Combined visible light and infrared light-emitting diode (LED) therapy enhances wound healing after laser ablative resurfacing of photodamaged facial skin

Abstract

LED therapy accelerates healing post-resurfacing. Laser ablative resurfacing is still the most effective method for the rejuvenation of severely photoaged and photodamaged facial skin, but the long-healing time coupled with other troublesome sequelae mean a long patient downtime. Phototherapy with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has recently been attracting attention in accelerating wound healing. The current study was designed to assess the beneficial effects of LED phototherapy on wound healing and postoperative sequelae following laser ablative resurfacing. The study had both a prospective and retrospective arm. The prospective study population consisted of 28 female patients who underwent ablative Er:YAG/CO2 laser resurfacing (four full face, eight periocular, 16 perioral), followed by hemifacial LED therapy with 830 nm followed by 633 nm LED panels, 20 min/session (55 and 98 J/cm 2 , respectively. The contralateral side of the face was covered with an opaque material to prevent exposure to the LED energy. A similar number of age- and treatment-matched patients previously treated in the same way, but without LED therapy, formed the retrospective arm. Tissue healing time and postoperative sequelae were compared for the treated and untreated sides in the prospective group and for the untreated retrospective group. The healing time in the LED-treated side was around 50% faster and sequelae significantly less compared with the untreated side, but interestingly these factors were slightly better in the untreated side compared with the retrospective untreated controls. At a 6-month follow-up in the prospective group, no significant difference in wrinkle improvement was seen between the treated and untreated side, but the skin appeared younger-looking on the LED-treated compared with the untreated side. Combined LED therapy significantly improved healing time and treatment sequelae in laser ablative resurfaced photoaged facial skin. It appears that this combined LED therapy approach may also help to sustain the good results through a maintenance therapy program. r 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.