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Blue LED irradiation to hydration of skin

Article  in  Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering · June 2015
DOI: 10.1117/12.2181196

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 BLUE LED IRRADIATION TO HYDRATION OF SKIN
Priscila F. C. Menezesa, Michelle B. Requenaa, Rosane F. Z. Lizarellia,b, Vanderlei S. Bagnatoa
a
Biophotonics Laboratory, Optics Group, Department of Materials Physics and Science, Institute of
Physics of Sao Carlos, University of Sao Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brasil.
b
NILO (Núcleo Integrado de Laser em Odontologia), Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paulo, Brasil.

ABSTRACT

Blue led system irradiation shows many important properties on skin as: bacterial decontamination, degradation of
endogenous skin chromophores and biostimulation. In this clinical study we prove that the blue light improves the skin
hydration. In the literature none authors reports this biological property on skin. Then this study aims to discuss the role
of blue light in the skin hydration. Twenty patients were selected to this study with age between 25-35 years old and
phototype I, II and III. A defined area from forearm was pre determined (A = 4.0 cm2). The study was randomized in two
treatment groups using one blue light device (power of 5.3mW and irradiance of 10.8mW/cm²). The first treatment group
was irradiated with 3J/cm2 (277 seconds) and the second with 6J/cm2 (555 seconds). The skin hydration evaluations were
done using a corneometer. The measurements were collected in 7, 14, 21 and 30 days, during the treatment. Statistical test
of ANOVA, Tukey and T-Student were applied considering 5% of significance. In conclusion, both doses were able to
improve the skin hydration; however, 6J/cm2 has kept this hydration for 30 days.

Keywords: hydration, skin, phototherapy, blue led, corneometry.

1. INTRODUCTION

In facial and body aesthetic treatments, phototherapy application, using lasers and LEDs in low and medium intensity, has
been usually applied. The main is to improve the metabolic activity in the treatment of skin disorders that occurs in aging
process. Its becomes greater in the photoaging process such as: lines and wrinkles, spots, puffy eyes and dark circles,
breakdown of collagen and elastin decreasing the elasticity and strength as well as disorders as stretch marks, cellulite,
acne and alopecia. Another important effect, reported in the literature, has been associated to its action in the postoperative
care, in the skin healing processes, analgesic and in the lymphatic drainage. [1]. Another clinical application that have been
showed great results is acne and rosettes skin [2-4].
The absorption and penetration of light in the biological tissue are dependent on the wavelength of the chromophore on
the tissue. Longer wavelengths present lower energy and higher penetration on the tissue. On the other hand small
wavelengths show higher energy and lower skin penetration. In this context the blue light shows a superficial skin action
[5-6].
The treatment of acne with phototherapy is already established, where the principle of phototherapy is based on interaction
of light with the porphyrin present inside the bacteria P. acnes at skin where by photochemical reactions the
microorganisms are induced to death by necrosis and apoptosis mechanism [2,7]. The acne treatment using blue light
(LEDs in 450 ± 20nm) after some sessions (sessions 6 to 10) has great results at skin in the oil control since that shows a
decreasing in the oil at skin surface although showing a homogeneous and illuminated aspect. But in this case due to
increasing of water content that improves the normal circulation decreasing the opacity of skin. The excess of oil at skin
by physical properties (reflection of light) increases the bright and consequently the fine lines and wrinkles perception.
The reduction of oil decrease the possibility to appears infectious (pustules, papules, nodules) and inflammatory (open and

Biophotonics South America, edited by Cristina Kurachi, Katarina Svanberg, Bruce J. Tromberg,
Vanderlie Salvador Bagnato, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 9531, 95311W · © 2015 SPIE
CCC code: 1605-7422/15/$18 · doi: 10.1117/12.2181196

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 closed comedones) lesions at skin proving the bactericidal effect of blue light as well as the biomodulator effect, resulting
in a hydrated healthy skin [10-11].
In our clinical observations the blue light is responsible by hydration at skin. Up to now in the scientific literature no data
was found that confirm this ability. Through clinical observation some hypotheses related to mechanism involved in the
hydration by blue light were done. Since the wavelengths in the range of visible light are absorbed by biomolecules as
proteins, we started our research seeking to understand more this hypothesis.
The protein found in greater quantities in the skin is keratin. It has the function of preventing transepidermal water loss
(TEWL) since that acts strengthening the skin's protective barrier (corneo stratum). The reeptelization that occurs in the
epidermis layers, have intention to stimulate the skin cellular renewal and also to produce more functional keratin in the
stratum corneum increasing the retention water functionality at skin. The water retention capacity of the stratum corneum
depends on the presence of hygroscopic substances within cells called NMF (Natural Moisturizing Factor), lipids and the
presence of the keratin protein [11].
NMF is formed by the degradation of filaggrin protein that is essential for maintaining skin barrier protection. Keratin is a
fibrous protein three-dimensional structure with special features: microfilaments with strength, elasticity and
impermeability to water. Even dead, the corneocytes, anucleated cells, which is the stratum corneum, surrounded by keratin
has the task of preventing the entry of unwanted substances into the skin and prevent water loss functioning as skin
protective barrier. Keratin is synthesized in the skin by keratinocytes near the basal layer and also in epidermal
invaginations in the dermis that occurs mainly in the hair and nails. [11,12]. Therefore, perhaps the blue light is absorbed
by keratin, the same way that’s happens when the light is absorbed by flavoproteins [10].
The photoactivation of this biomolecule by light restructures the skin barrier keeping the same protected and as
consequence the skin hydrated. Our hypothesis can be summarized in fact that keratin absorbs light in the spectral range
of visible (violet and blue light), then when the blue light is delivered to skin; the keratin is photoactivated and transfer the
energy to keratinocyte cells that’s induces the cellular renewal as also the production of functional keratin, which is
responsible for strengthening the skin's protective barrier, thus preventing water loss, increasing skin hydration [13].
Another suggestion is related to role of filaggrin. This protein can also be photoactivated and produces the NMF,
responsible to remain the water at epidermis skin layers.
The purpose of this work is to show that the blue light increases the skin hydration. The possibility of increasing the amount
of water at skin decreases the aging process at skin. The blue light can be useful in the skin aging treatment as well as in
the treatment of sensitive skin. The sensitive skin is caused primarily by skin dehydration. Another positive effect is in the
control of oil and the best actuation in the bacterial control. In conclusion here we will discuss that blue light could be a
well-indicated alternative to aesthetic treatments.

2. METHODS AND MATERIAL

2.1 Volunteers: inclusion and exclusion criteria

The protocol used in this study followed the procedures establish by Human Research Ethics Committee of Brazil. Written
informed consent was obtained from all participants. Ten man patients, with age between 25-35 years old, with a clinical
diagnosis of normal skin were recruited for this clinical study. To be considered eligible, a patient had to be free of skin
disorders on both arms. All patients had Fitzpatrick skin types II (50%) or III (50%). Patients with lesions in the target area
were excluded. Additional exclusion criteria included female volunteers and volunteers that have habit to apply cosmetic
at skin.
The study was randomized in two treatment groups. The first treatment group (GI) was performed using blue light
irradiation at forearm skin (forearm) with light dose of 3J/cm2 and the second treatment group (GII) using light dose of
6J/cm2. The control group (CG), was performed on the additional arm from volunteer. Comparisons were made for each
treatment group and between both treatments in 7, 14, 21 and 30 days. The treatment was performed twice a week during
30 days. The region irradiated can be visualized in figure 1.

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 Figure 1- Experimental design of the study (Adapted image © 2014 Sara Kirschenbaum).

2.2 Equipment for irradiation

The used blue light prototype was produced by our engineers, in our lab (Optical group-IFSC-USP) (Fig. 2). The device
developed is optically based in a illumination probe on LED (Light Emitting Diodes) arrays with 42 LEDs uniformity
distributed in a sphere with wavelength in 450nm. The system shows power of 5.3mW and irradiance of 10.8mW/cm². In
the experiment the volunteers were irradiated during 277seconds (~7min) and 555 seconds (~9min) with the fluency of 3
and 6 J/cm2 respectively. The temperature was monitored during the experimental procedure to avoid the thermal effect at
skin.
r

Figure 2 - Blue light device used in the study.

2.3 Treatment procedure

Firstly, the volunteer’s skin was cleaned using physiological solutions and were maintained in a controlled environment
(humidity and temperature) to avoid interferences in the hydration evaluations. The temperature monitored between 18°C

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 and 22°C) and the humidity between 35% and 55%. A mask was added at volunteer’s skin to delimit the treatment area.
The initial hydration measurements were performed after 30min of volunteer stayed in the controlled environment. The
skin hydration was evaluated using the equipment corneometer (SCALAR-USA) that analyze the amount of water counted
at skin by conductance measurements. In each volunteers we performed twelve hydration measures collection. After this
the irradiation was performed in the forearm of all volunteers varying the light dose from two groups. The same procedure
was performed in t7, t14, t21 and t30 days.

2.4 Statistics
Statistical test of ANOVA, Tukey and T-Student were applied considering significance level of 5%.

3. RESULTS

In the table 1 is possible to observe the hydration data and its standard deviation to both treatment groups (I and II). In
each group we found an internal control.

Table 1: Skin hydration measurements to treatment groups.

DAYS GROUP I GROUP II

Control DP Treatment DP Control DP Treatment DP
3 J/cm² 6 J/cm²
0 26.4 1.0 25.5 3.8 26.5 1.4 24.2 3.2
7 27.8 1.8 24.7 1.8 27.6 1.2 24.7 3.5
14 27.9 1.4 24.0 2.2 27.6 1.5 24.7 3.0
21 26.7 1.6 24.4 2.4 27.8 1.2 25.6 2.3
28 26.2 1.6 23.3 2.9 27.0 1.6 24.7 3.5
35 26.8 1.9 22.5 1.9 26.8 1.4 23.7 3.0

In the Figure 3 we can observe the skin hydration curve as a function of treatment days for both treatment groups irradiated
using blue LED device with fluence of 3 and 6J/cm2.

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 32
Group I - 3 J/cm² Group II - 6 J/cm²
Control Control
30 Treatment Treatment

28
Hydratation (%)

26

24

22

20
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (days)
Figure 3: Skin Hydration evaluation for both treatment groups using blue LED device in the fluency of 3 and 6J/cm2.

According to Figure 3, the increased of hydration occurred after 15 days of treatment with blue light, during the treatment.
Using the fluence of 3J/cm2 the hydration increased after 20 days of blue light treatment, however the difference between
skin control and treated area with blue light decreases around 30 days. On the other hand using fluence of 6J/cm2 the
hydration increased after 15 days and remains greater than control group during the 30 days.

4. DISCUSSION

The epidermis, a homeostatic and self-renewing tissue, requires a balanced level of hydration for the ideal proliferation,
differentiation, and physiological integrity of the epithelial cells of which it is composed. Water is vital for the proper
physiological functioning and maintenance of the epidermis, and for the outward appearance of healthy skin [14].
Therapy with light sources using equipments based on laser or LED, as a research area as well as therapeutic applications,
is widely used in the medical, dental and physiotherapy, as well as aesthetics procedures. It is important note that the LEDs
devices are more affordable light emitting sources of economic point of view and have a greater emitting area of light
compared to laser [15]. Furthermore, therapeutic effects on biological tissues appear to be more related to wavelength and
the applied dose, and less related to the light emitting source [16].
Phototherapy with wavelengths in the blue (400 to 500nm) has recently presented a broad range of applications. This is a
spectral range that can accelerate and direct chemical reactions, including cellular metabolism. It is absorbed by
Flavoproteins [10], in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, by hemoglobin, porphyrins and by the reduced cytochrome c
[17] in biological tissues and most of biomaterials due to its spectral range.
In this study, the hypothesis that another successful application for phototherapy with blue LED could be the cutaneous
hydration seems to confirm the clinical findings.
Equally or more important than the electromagnetic spectrum used here, it seems that the energy density that varied
depending on the irradiation time, and therefore the amount of deposited energy and the irradiation time in the tissue
affected the results. According to the results suggests up when the light dose was 6 J/cm2 for irradiation time of 9 minutes,

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 there was a greater increase in hydration. Clearly, the energy density or fluence or longer irradiation times are best suited
for promoting the cutaneous hydration.
On the other hand, considering a used fixed power of 5.3mW and the irradiance of 10.8mW/cm², there was no located in
the heating zone, which could be another factor in the study of variation, since the heat could induce a movement of water
molecules inside the skin in the direction of the dermis to the epidermis, increasing the percentage of hydration.
This study contributes to interesting situations, for example, to bedridden patients and admitted to the hospital, where the
difficulty in maintaining conditions of homeostasis and cutaneous hydration would be hampered. So, the daily irradiation
of patients with low doses of blue LED, could assist them in rehabilitation processes, reducing the length of stay and risk
of infection.

5. CONCLUSIONS

In a deal with the results the application of blue light improves the skin hydration avoiding the transepidermal water loss
(TEWL). The fluence of 6J/cm2 increases the hydration in 15 days and remains during 30 days. This data suggest that blue
light can be a good alternative to all aesthetic procedures in facial skin care. Then, it is possible to conclude that the blue
light improves the skin water content that is directly correlated to the skin aging process decreases as in other skin
dysfunctions either.

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