Light Emitting Diode in Skin Rejuvenation

Abstract

Skin aging is an inevitable process that occurs due to both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Photoaging is a cumulative process that depends mainly on the degree of sun exposure while chronological aging depends solely on the passage ot time. Skin aging is associated with many clinical manifestations such as rythides, dyspigmentation, atrophy, telengiectasia, leathery appearance and premalignant and malignant lesions . Many theories try to explain the process of skin aging as telomere hypothesis, free radical theory, cytokines theory, mitochondrial DNA, hormonal and environmental exposure theories . However, the exact mechanisms of aging are still poorly defined . Multiple modalities have been described for skin photorejuvenation including ablative, non ablative and fractional laser resurfacing that fills the gap between the ablative and non ablative modalities. Although ablative lasers remain he gold standard for photodamaged skin rejuvenation, their use is associated with significant risk of side effects as well as a prolonged unpleasant downtime. Thus, interest in non ablative modalities has become an appealing alternative treatment. Light emitting diode therapy is an increasingly popular methodology for the treatment of photoaging. It is a nonablative, athermal intervention used in the rejuvenation of aged skin. It is proposed that specific LED light wavelengths are absorbed in the skin and used to modulate cell function proliferation and repair of sun damaged tissue in a process termed photobiomodulation.