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The Anti-Aging Effect of IPL on the Epidermis

Intense-Pulsed Light (IPL) is a common cosmetic procedure.
-It is used for photorejuvenation: pigment changes, erythema, skin texture. It is however ineffective in the treatment of wrinkles.
-Contrarily to lasers it uses a wide spectrum of light; in the visible range between 400 to 1200 nm.
-To read more in IPL: click HERE

Wrinkles are normally treated with Botulinum Toxin (expression wrinkles) or Fillers (Hyaluronic Acid = Hyaluronan = HA…)

Interestingly although IPL is ineffective in treated wrinkles (which is mainly a dermal reduction of HA), it is effective in improving epidermal texture…through stimulation of HA synthesis after stimulation of CD44 (which is also known as HA-receptor)

This study shows that Keratinocytes (the main cells of the epidermis) appear respond to IPL by producing HA through stimulation of CD44. This might explain the smoother texture of the skin which can be obtained with this procedure, pulse 20ms, fluence 13J/cm2)

Methods
-Comparison between 8 week old and 47 week old mice
-IPL irradiation at 570nm
-Measurement by ELISA of concentration of HA,  HABP4, CD44 and Hyaluronan Synthase 3 (HAS 3).

Results
All participants of the HA pathway were increased by IPL and HABP4 and CD44 gene expression increased 24-48 hours following irradiation.
Filaggrin expression was increased in aged mice (Filaggrin is important in the integrity of the skin barrier: read more HERE)

Comment: The study was done in rodents (hairless mice) and it remains to be seen if the results can be reproduced in humans

Further reading: What is CD44 ?
-The CD44 antigen is a cell-surface glycoprotein involved in cell–cell interactions
-it is a receptor for hyaluronic acid. To read more, click HERE
-A previous study of anti-aging epidermal effects of CD44 is available HERE

 

Source of information: P05-21 (O1-09) Sang EL, et al. Intense pulsed light increases hyaluronan and CD44 in the epidermal keratinocytes and improves age-relaterd epidermal structure defects. JSID Annual Meeting (Japanese Society of Investigative Dermatology, 日本研究皮膚科学会) 2015 – Okayama, Japan