Accelerated reduction of post-skin-resurfacing erythema and discomfort with a combination of non-thermal blue and near infrared light.

ABSTRACT

The prolonged crusting and erythematic phases following chemical and laser skin resurfacing create discomfort and aggravate patients. Depending on the aggressiveness of the procedure, post-procedure erythema may last from three weeks to several months. iClearXL (CureLight Ltd) is a non-contact, non-thermal blue (405-420 nm)/near infrared (850-900 nm) dual-band light source emitting up to 60 J/cm2 on a 30 cm by 30 cm treatment area. The blue component of the light source has been proven to have a significant anti-inflammatory effect, whereas the near infrared component enhances vascular circulation as well as lymphatic drainage in the thin, necrotized papillary layer. Facial skin laser resurfacing was performed on twelve patients. Starting one day after resurfacing, six patients received a daily 20-minute treatment of blue (405-420 nm)/near infrared (850-900 nm) light for six consecutive days, and six control patients were treated with the usual topical care protocol. Twelve days after the procedure, the treated group had a weighted average erythema score of 0.33 as compared to 1.33 in the control group. Two months after the procedure, the treated group had a weighted average erythema score of 0.16 as compared to 0.83 in the control group. Twelve days after the procedure, the treated group had a weighted average discomfort score of 0.33 as compared to 0.83 in the control group. The tested combination of non-thermal blue (405-420 nm)/near infrared (850-900 nm) dual-band light was found to significantly shorten the duration of post-laser-resurfacing erythema and discomfort with no side effects.