Photobiomodulation Reduces Periocular Wrinkle Volume by 30%: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 36780572 · doi:10.1089/photob.2022.0114
What was done
In a split-face randomized clinical trial, 137 women (aged 40–65 years, skin phototypes II–IV, Glogau photoaging types II–IV) received 10 sessions over 4 weeks of light-emitting diode photobiomodulation (PBM) at identical doses (3.8 J/cm²). One side of the face received red light (660 nm) and the other received amber light (590 nm). Outcomes measured before and after treatment included periocular wrinkle volume (VisioFace RD), hydration (Corneometer CM 825), skin elasticity (Cutometer Dual MPA 580), and quality of life via adapted MelasQoL-BP and Skindex-29 questionnaires.
What was found
Periocular wrinkle volume decreased significantly after treatment by 31.6% with red PBM and 29.9% with amber PBM. Neither wavelength yielded improvements in skin hydration or viscoelasticity. Participants showed improvement in quality-of-life scores on both questionnaires.
Why it matters
This study provides head-to-head evidence that non-thermal red and amber light protocols at equivalent doses achieve comparable ~30% reductions in periocular wrinkle volume without tissue injury.
Limits
The split-face design lacked an untreated or sham-control arm to evaluate potential systemic crossover effects or placebo responses. The cohort included only women with phototypes II–IV, precluding generalization to men and darker skin phototypes (V–VI). Follow-up was limited to the 4-week treatment window with no assessment of durability, and biophysical markers of hydration and elasticity showed no objective improvement.
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