ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of prophylactic photobiomodulation (PBM) in reducing postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) induced by carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing in a patient with periorbital syringomas. Background: PIH is a common condition characterized by abnormal skin pigmentation after an inflammatory process occurring in up to 20-30% of patients undergoing CO2 laser resurfacing. Methods: The patient was treated with PBM using a pulsed home-use device at 630 nm before and after CO2 laser treatment. The patient was asked to treat the right periorbital area before and after the CO2 laser treatment, which was continued once a day for 2 consecutive weeks. Results: At 12 weeks, PIH was significantly reduced on the treated side compared with the contralateral untreated side (leading to persistent erythema at 6 months). Conclusions: This is the first report of prophylactic treatment of CO2 laser-induced dyschromia using PBM.
Subject(s)
Hyperpigmentation , Lasers, Gas , Low-Level Light Therapy , Humans , Lasers, Gas/therapeutic use , Hyperpigmentation/etiology , Hyperpigmentation/radiotherapy , Hyperpigmentation/prevention & control , Female , Adult , Inflammation/radiotherapyABSTRACT
Objective: To describe current knowledge regarding established and putative cell signaling pathways involved in skin photobiomodulation. Background: The skin is the largest and most accessible organ of the body. It is the first line of defense against the external environment, including solar radiation. Among solar rays, visible and infrared non-ionizing photons may reach human skin and trigger a cascade of non-thermal cell signaling pathways called photobiomodulation (PBM). The use of PBM using artificial light sources has been known for more than 50 years, but it has not yet been widely accepted due to uncertainty about the cellular mechanisms of action. However, much knowledge has been gained in this field in recent years, which will be summarized in this review. Methods: An extensive literature review was performed using Medline, Embase, and Google Scholar as research databases to acquire relevant publications in this particular field. Results: A comprehensive description of chromophores, primary and secondary effectors is provided in addition to a visual representation of known and putative cell signaling mechanisms involved in such complex light-skin interactions. Also, a summary of clinical indications of skin PBM, key light parameters, and promising skin applications (local and systemic) are mentioned. Conclusions: In PBM, skin cells are the first to absorb photons, triggering specific cell-signaling pathways through primary and secondary effectors, leading to enhanced cell repair and survival, notably in hypoxic or stressed cells. A better understanding of the mechanisms of action will help us optimize known indications and discover new ones.
Subject(s)
Low-Level Light Therapy , Humans , Skin , Infrared Rays , Signal Transduction , PhotonsABSTRACT
Background: Linear morphea is a variant of scleroderma limited to the skin and underlying tissues secondary to an autoimmune inflammation leading to excess collagen deposition and fibrosis. Apart from topical or oral medications, successful light-based treatments have been reported using phototherapy including Psoralen plus ultraviolet A, photodynamic therapy, carbon dioxide laser, pulsed dye laser, and visible/infrared light. Methods: We report a patient with biopsy-proven infraorbital linear morphea responding to 940 nm near-infrared light photobiomodulation treatments. Results: The patient had excellent cosmesis without textural changes or hypopigmentation despite her darker skin complexion (Fitzpatrick phototype III) after tri-weekly treatments for 8 months. Conclusions: Linear morphea, therefore, may be potentially amenable to home use light-based therapy by using nonthermal nonablative 940 nm photons. To our knowledge, this home-based treatment approach has not been previously reported.
Subject(s)
Lasers, Gas , Scleroderma, Localized , Female , Humans , Infrared Rays , Phototherapy , Scleroderma, Localized/therapy , SkinABSTRACT
Facial multiple miliary osteoma cutis is a variant of osteoma cutis usually occurring in women with a previous history of acne vulgaris. Successful ablative laser treatment has been reported using both CO2 and Er:YAG lasers among other invasive treatment modalities, like surgical removal. We report a patient with biopsy-proven facial multiple miliary osteoma cutis responding to non-ablative Q-switched Nd:YAG laser therapy. The patient had excellent cosmesis without textural changes or hypopigmentation despite her Asian background after three sessions over 6 months. Multiple miliary osteoma cutis is therefore now amenable to non-surgical non-ablative therapy by using Q-switched Nd:YAG laser therapy reducing the risk of textural changes and hypopigmentation, especially in dark complexion and high-risk individuals. To our knowledge, this treatment approach has not been previously reported.
