Ultrastructural changes seen after ALA-IPL photorejuvenation: a pilot study.

Author: Marmur ES, Phelps R, Goldberg DJ

Author affiliation: Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists of New York and New Jersey, NJ 07601, USA.

Publication date & source: 2005.03, J Cosmet Laser Ther., 7(1):21-4.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Intense pulse light (IPL) treatment currently represents one of the most popular non-ablative photodamage skin treatments. Recent anecdotal evidence suggests that aminolevulonic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy using IPL as a light source is superior to IPL alone for photorejuvenation. METHODS: Seven adult subjects (six women, one man) with minimal photodamage were treated with full face IPL treatment. Half of the face was pre-treated with topical ALA. Pre-and post-treatment biopsies were analyzed for changes in collagen by electron microscopic ultrastructural analysis. RESULTS: An increase in type I collagen fibers was seen after treatment in all subjects. There was a greater increase in type I collagen formation in those subjects who were pre-treated with topical ALA. CONCLUSION: This small pilot study is the first to focus on the ultrastructural changes seen after ALA-IPL photorejuvenation. We found a greater shift toward type I collagen synthesis in the ALA-IPL group compared to the IPL group. The addition of ALA to IPL treatment for photorejuvenation may be superior to IPL alone.

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