Intense pulsed light, near infrared pulsed light, and fractional laser combination therapy for skin rejuvenation in Asian subjects: a prospective multi-center study in China

• Published in: Lasers in medical science Vol. 30; no. 7; pp. 1977 - 1983
• Main Authors: Tao, Li, Wu, Jiaqiang, Qian, Hui, Lu, Zhong, Li, Yuanhong, Wang, Weizhen, Zhao, Xiaozhong, Tu, Ping, Yin, Rui, Xiang, Leihong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer London 01.09.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aging; Asian; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Asian people; China; Clinical outcomes; Cosmetic Techniques; Dentistry; Dermatology; Effectiveness; Face - physiopathology; Face - radiation effects; Female; Humans; Intense Pulsed Light Therapy; Lasers; Lasers, Solid-State - therapeutic use; Light (visible radiation); Low-Level Light Therapy; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Optical Devices; Optics; Original Article; Photonics; Prospective Studies; Quantum Optics; Rejuvenation; Skin; Skin - physiopathology; Skin - radiation effects; Skin Aging; Surface layer; Texture; Therapy; Treatment Outcome; China; Intense pulsed light; Skin rejuvenation; Near infrared light; Fractional laser
• ISSN: 0268-8921; 1435-604X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10103-015-1792-8

Ablative skin rejuvenation therapies have limitations for Asian people, including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and long down time. Non-ablative lasers are safer but have limited efficacy. This study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of a combination therapy consisting of intense pulsed light (IPL), near infrared (NIR) light, and fractional erbium YAG (Er:YAG) laser for skin rejuvenation in Asian people. This study recruited 113 subjects from six sites in China. Subjects were randomly assigned to a full-face group, who received combination therapy, and split-face groups, in which one half of the face received combination therapy and the other half received IPL monotherapy. Each subject received five treatment sessions during a period of 90 days. Subjects were followed up at 1 and 3 months post last treatment. Three months after last treatment, the full-face group ( n  = 57) had a global improvement rate of 29 % and 29 % for wrinkles, 32 % for skin texture, 33 % for pigment spots, 28 % for pore size, respectively. For patients in the split-face groups ( n  = 54), monotherapy side had a global improvement rate of 23 % and 20 % for wrinkles, 27 % for skin texture, 25 % for pigment spots, 25 % for pore size, respectively. Both combination therapy and monotherapy resulted in significant improvements at the follow-up visits compared to baseline ( P  < 0.001). Combination therapy showed significantly greater improvements compared to monotherapy at two follow-up visits ( P  < 0.05). Combination therapy is a safe and more effective strategy than IPL monotherapy for skin rejuvenation in Asian people.