Surgical scar prevention
LED red light dose-ranging study for post-surgical scarring
Kurtti A, et al. Journal of Biophotonics. 2021.
A split-face dose-ranging study of LED red light after surgery had a negative primary endpoint but some dose-level scar improvements.
Evidence grade
low
Effect direction
mixed
Panel relevance
partially-replicable
Key findings
- LED red light was applied three times weekly for 3 weeks starting 1 week after surgery.
- The primary endpoint was negative, while some observer-rating and pliability outcomes improved at certain doses.
- Adverse events included mild blistering in two participants and swelling in one participant, which resolved.
Protocol details
| Wavelengths | Not reported nm |
|---|---|
| Irradiance | Not reported mW/cm2 |
| Fluence | 160 J/cm2 |
| Session time | Not reported minutes |
| Frequency | Three times weekly |
| Duration | 3 weeks, starting 1 week after surgery |
| Treatment area | Post-surgical scars |
| Device type | LED red light scar device |
Caveats
- High fluence and mixed results make this a cautionary scar record rather than a simple home protocol.
- Some devices and doses may irritate healing skin.