Infrared light therapy is nonablative phototherapy that is known to improve wrinkles and skin laxity. A recent study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of broad-band infrared light therapy in patients with wrinkles and skin laxity of the face.

An open study was performed on 29 patients who received broad-band infrared light therapy with a 1-month interval up to 5 times.

The following results were obtained:

• Twenty-one percent of patients showed marked improvement, 30% showed moderate improvement and 28% showed a slight improvement in wrinkles at the corners of the eyes, whereas 21% remained unchanged.
• Wrinkle grades in the tested area were found to be reduced significantly than pre-treatment.
• Thirty-one percent of patients showed marked improvement, 31% showed moderate improvement, and 28% showed a slight improvement in laxity of the cheek skin, whereas 10% remained unchanged.
• No patients discontinued the treatment due to adverse effects and no patients exhibited hyperpigmentation or scarring after the treatments.
• Patient satisfaction indicated satisfied to very satisfied rates in 76% of subjects.

Thus,phototherapy using this broad-band infrared light source is effective and well-tolerated in the patients, suggesting its usage as a new modality for the treatment of wrinkles and tightening of the face.

Source: Hirao A, Morita R, Kawada A. Clinical effectiveness of broad-band infrared light therapy for wrinkles and skin laxity of the face. J ClinExp Dermatol Res.2014;5(5):233.