P10 Illuminating repair: exploring light-emitting diode light therapy for photoaged skin

Introduction and aims Photoageing, driven by cumulative ultraviolet exposure and chronological ageing, leads to epidermal thinning, dyspigmentation, textural change and loss of structural integrity. Light-emitting diode (LED) therapy, particularly using red and near-infrared wavelengths, is a promising noninvasive approach for improving visible signs of photodamage. However, its effects on functional biophysical characteristics of human skin – and how these relate to potential structural remodelling – remain insufficiently characterized. This human in-use study evaluates the functional effects of a commercially available LED face mask over 12 weeks in women with moderate photoageing. Methods Twenty healthy women aged 35–60 years (individual typology angle categories very light to intermediate) were enrolled in a 12-week in-use study. Participants used an LED face mask and a matched forearm device for 10 mins, five times per week. Functional assessments included VISIA imaging, hydration, elasticity (cutometry), transepidermal water loss, and colorimetry at baseline, week 6 and week 12. Findings presented here reflect midpoint (week 6) outcomes from a subset of participants (n = 11). Results By week 6, early functional improvements were evident. Cutometry using a 2-mm probe, capturing predominantly epidermal biomechanical properties, showed significant reductions in maximal deformation (R0, P = 0.008) and fatigue-related parameters (R3, P = 0.004; R4, P = 0.008). Reduced R0 indicates the epidermis deforms less under suction, suggesting improved structural integrity. Decreases in fatigue parameters show greater ability to withstand and recover from repeated deformation cycles, reflecting enhanced resilience after 6 weeks of LED use. Conclusions Full 12-week analyses will integrate functional outcomes with planned biopsy-based histological evaluation to determine whether these early improvements in biomechanics correspond to measurable tissue-level structural and compositional change. Together, these datasets will help define the extent to which LED therapy can restore key features of photoaged skin.