Who needs Botox when you have LEDs? That's right: German scientists say that exposing skin to simple LED light at high intensity levels gave test subjects "rejuvenated skin, reduced wrinkle levels, juvenile complexion and lasting resilience."

Light has been used for many years to aid in the healing of wounds, but no one has ever really understood why. The new report suggests that light can impact the molecular structure of a key skin protein called elastin which creates tissue's elasticity, namely by removing water which causes that protein (and thus the skin) to become more brittle and rigid (resulting in wrinkles).

Results after several months of treatment (see the photo for what the change in wrinkle levels after just nine consecutive weeks looks like) are quite striking, though light therapy is clearly not going to give anyone the smooth skin of their teenage years.

It's unclear from the study whether there's anything special about LED light that would achieve this result or whether any light, provided it's the right wavelength and intensity, would work. I suspect it's the latter and that LEDs were chosen because they are easier to control in a scientific setting and because they don't give off heat (and can thus be placed very near the skin).

More details as they become available.

UPDATE from Andrei  P. Sommer, one of the study's researchers, regarding my LED question: "I do not see an alternative to an array of LEDs. There is no other light source that could practically do the same, i.e., is sufficiently intensive. Lasers could, in principle, be used... but if you want to treat a relevant surface area with laser light it could become very costly."

Via ScienceDaily.

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