Light Emitting Diode-Red Light (LED-RL) Phototherapy for Skin Scarring Prevention

Skin scarring (fibrosis) is a common complication in the wound healing process and remains a therapeutic challenge. Scar formation often occurs following injury to the skin such as surgery, trauma, and burns. The goal of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of visible red light as a modality to reduce skin scarring after mini-facelift surgery. Based on laboratory data, light emitting diode-red light (LED-RL) phototherapy may lessen post-surgical skin fibrosis clinically.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Fibrosis; Scar; Keloid; Skin Wound; Hypertrophic Scar; Skin Scarring
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: LED-RL phototherapy; Device: Mock irradiation

Detailed Description

Skin fibrosis is a significant global health problem that has a profoundly negative impact on quality of life. Characterized by excessive fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition, skin fibrosis underlies a wide spectrum of dermatologic conditions ranging from pathologic scars secondary to injury (e.g., burns, surgery, trauma) to immune-mediated diseases. Effective anti-scarring therapeutics remain an unmet need, underscoring the importance of developing novel approaches to treat and prevent skin fibrosis.

In vitro data show that LED-RL can modulate key cellular and molecular processes involved in skin fibrosis. Two phase I clinical trials (STARS 1 and STARS 2) demonstrated the safety and tolerability of LED-RL at fluences of 160 J/cm2 up to 480 J/cm2 on normal human skin. The administration of LED-RL phototherapy in the early postoperative period may optimize wound healing and prevent excessive scarring. The results from this study may change the current treatment paradigm for fibrotic skin diseases and help to pioneer LED-RL as a safe, non-invasive, cost-effective, portable, at-home therapy for scars.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Brooklyn, New York, United States, 11203
      • SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Provision of written informed consent for all study procedures
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
• Suitable candidate for elective mini-facelift surgery
• Pass a screening photosensitivity test

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current use of any photosensitizing medications
• Light-sensitive conditions
• Diabetes mellitus
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Current tobacco use
• History of bleeding or coagulation disorder
• Lax skin associated with genetic disorders
• Open wounds on the face or neck
• Fibrotic skin disease, pre-existing scar(s), or other skin conditions affecting the periauricular skin
• History of surgery or procedure involving or affecting the periauricular skin within the past 6 months (e.g., prior facelift, fillers, laser therapy)
• Tattoos that cover the proposed treatment sites on the periauricular skin
• Any other medical condition(s) that could be compromised by exposure to the proposed treatment

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: LED-RL phototherapy; Thirty subjects will be randomly allocated to three treatment groups to receive LED-RL phototherapy or temperature-matched mock irradiation (control) to either periauricular incision site at fluences of 160 J/cm2, 320 J/cm2, or 480 J/cm2. Starting one week after surgery (postoperative days 4-8), treatments will be administered three times weekly for three consecutive weeks.	Device: LED-RL phototherapy; The LED-RL treatment device has a 4.7 cm x 6.1 cm rectangular array of LEDs and emits visible red light (633 nm) at a power density of 360.2 W/m2 at room temperature and a distance of 10 mm from the target surface.; Other Names: Omnilux handheld LED system (GlobalMed Technologies, Glen Ellen, CA)
Sham Comparator: Mock irradiation; Thirty subjects will be randomly allocated to three treatment groups to receive LED-RL phototherapy or temperature-matched mock irradiation (control) to either periauricular incision site at fluences of 160 J/cm2, 320 J/cm2, or 480 J/cm2. Starting one week after surgery (postoperative days 4-8), treatments will be administered three times weekly for three consecutive weeks.	Device: Mock irradiation; The mock therapy device is designed to sound, look, and feel identical to the LED-RL treatment device (i.e., has the same physical components and thermal output), except it does not emit visible red light.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Scar Pliability Between the Treated and Control Incision Sites as Measured by Skin Elasticity at 6 Months Compared to Baseline	The ElastiMeter, a non-invasive indentation instrument, will be used to evaluate skin elasticity (i.e., skin stiffness) of the LED-RL-treated scar versus the untreated scar. Skin elasticity is measured in Newtons/meters (N/m).	1 month, 3 months, 6 months
Change in Scar Pliability Between the Treated and Control Incision Sites as Measured by Skin Induration at Three Follow-up Time Points Compared to Baseline	The SkinFibroMeter, a non-invasive indentation instrument, will be used to evaluate the induration of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (i.e., hardness) of the LED-RL-treated scar versus the untreated scar. Skin induration is measured in Newtons (N).	Baseline assessment was completed on post-operative day 5, before LED-RL or mock phototherapy treatment. Follow-up visits were scheduled on approximately post-operative day 30 (1 month), post-operative 90 (3 months), and post-operative day 180 (6 months).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Observer Scar Assessment Scale	The scale consists of six items rated from 1 to 10, where 1 is "normal skin" and 10 is the "worst imaginable scar". The observer (i.e., investigator) evaluates scar vascularity, pigmentation, thickness, relief, pliability, and surface area. The scores of each of the six items are summed for a total score (range 6 to 60).	Baseline assessment was completed on post-operative day 5, before LED-RL or mock phototherapy treatment. Follow-up visits were scheduled on approximately post-operative day 30 (1 month), post-operative 90 (3 months), and post-operative day 180 (6 months).
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Scoring of Digital Photographs of Scars	The scar images will be rated by two independent, blinded dermatologists using a VAS. The VAS is presented as a 10 cm horizontal line, where the extreme ends of 0 indicates "normal skin" and 10 corresponds to the "worst possible scar," for each of the following scar attributes: pigmentation, vascularity, observer comfort, contour, and overall severity.	Baseline assessment was completed on post-operative day 5, before LED-RL or mock phototherapy treatment. Follow-up visits were scheduled on approximately post-operative day 30 (1 month), post-operative 90 (3 months), and post-operative day 180 (6 months).
Dermal Collagen Concentration	A non-invasive, handheld diffuse reflectance probe will be used to measure collagen concentration in the dermis at each incision site. The scale ranges from 10 to 99 and the collagen measurement corresponds to the half of the optical scattering coefficient of the dermis.	Baseline assessment was completed on post-operative day 5, before LED-RL or mock phototherapy treatment. Follow-up visits were scheduled on approximately post-operative day 30 (1 month), post-operative 90 (3 months), and post-operative day 180 (6 months).
Dermal Water Concentration	A non-invasive, handheld diffuse reflectance probe will be used to measure water concentration in the dermis at each incision site. Infrared light is emitted at different wavelengths to retrieve the scattering and the absorption coefficients of the dermis. The more water, the less reflectance. Concentration ranges from 40% to 85%.	Baseline assessment was completed on post-operative day 5, before LED-RL or mock phototherapy treatment. Follow-up visits were scheduled on approximately post-operative day 30 (1 month), post-operative 90 (3 months), and post-operative day 180 (6 months).
3D Imaging Analysis: Pigmentation of Scar Tissue	A 3D digital imaging system will be used to construct 3D images of the scars for colorimetric analyses, including quantitative measurements of pigmentation at each incision site.	Baseline assessment was completed on post-operative day 5, before LED-RL or mock phototherapy treatment. Follow-up visits were scheduled on approximately post-operative day 30 (1 month), post-operative 90 (3 months), and post-operative day 180 (6 months).
3D Imaging Analysis: Vascularity of Scar Tissue	A 3D digital imaging system will be used to construct 3D images of the scars for colorimetric analyses, including quantitative measurements of vascularity at each incision site.	Baseline assessment was completed on post-operative day 5, before LED-RL or mock phototherapy treatment. Follow-up visits were scheduled on approximately post-operative day 30 (1 month), post-operative 90 (3 months), and post-operative day 180 (6 months).
3D Imaging Analysis: Volume of Elevation of Scar Tissue	A 3D digital imaging system will be used to construct 3D images of the scars for skin profilometry analyses, including quantitative measurements of tissue volume at each incision site.	Baseline assessment was completed on post-operative day 5, before LED-RL or mock phototherapy treatment. Follow-up visits were scheduled on approximately post-operative day 30 (1 month), post-operative 90 (3 months), and post-operative day 180 (6 months).
Histological Analysis: Collagen Content of Scar Tissue (Optional)	The histological changes that occur in vivo in response to LED-RL phototherapy will be evaluated by examination of pre- and post-treated skin tissue. Skin specimens will be obtained via optional 2 mm punch biopsy and stained for collagen fibers.	Skin specimens will be obtained via optional 2 mm punch biopsy on post-operative day 0 (prior to surgery) and post-operative day 30 (first follow-up visit after completion of LED-RL treatment).
Number of Participants Experiencing Adverse Events in Each Treatment Group	Subjects will be provided with a daily diary to record any adverse events experienced during the three-week intervention period. Treatment sessions will be monitored closely for the occurrence of any safety issues or adverse events, as reported by the subject or observed by the clinical research team. At each follow up visit, patients will be asked about adverse effects.	From first LED-RL and mock phototherapy treatment session on post-operative day 5 until final follow-up visit on post-operative day 180 (6 month follow-up).
Patient Scar Assessment Scale	The scale consists of six items rated from 1 to 10, where 1 is "normal skin" and 10 is the "worst imaginable scar". The patient assesses pain, itching, color, stiffness, thickness, and irregularity. The scores of each of the six items are summed for a total score (range 6 to 60).	Baseline assessment was completed on post-operative day 5, before LED-RL or mock phototherapy treatment. Follow-up visits were scheduled on approximately post-operative day 30 (1 month), post-operative 90 (3 months), and post-operative day 180 (6 months).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: State University of New York - Downstate Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Nguyen JK, Weedon J, Jakus J, Heilman E, Isseroff RR, Siegel DM, Jagdeo JR. A dose-ranging, parallel group, split-face, single-blind phase II study of light emitting diode-red light (LED-RL) for skin scarring prevention: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2019 Jul 15;20(1):432. doi: 10.1186/s13063-019-3546-6.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 18, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 26, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): October 26, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 20, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 2, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): January 7, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 1, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 31, 2022
• Last Verified: May 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Wound healing; Scarring; Skin fibrosis; Light emitting diode; Light emitting diode-red light; Visible red light
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Fibrosis; Cicatrix; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1304108

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes