A Dramatic New Skin Wrinkle Treatment is on the Horizon

An innovative new skin wrinkle treatment may be on the horizon. At least that's what researchers in Germany claim about their recent discovery that the light emitting diodes known as LEDs found in traffic lights and brightly lit billboard signs may play a role in reducing wrinkle formation in aging skin. They revealed their new discovery in an article published in the November 5 issue of the American Chemical Society.

How might the light emitting diodes found in brightly lit signs affect the formation of age related wrinkles? It's known that one of the principle components that give skin its youthful appearance are fibers known as elastin. Elastin gives skin the resiliency and firmness characteristic of younger looking skin. As the aging process takes place along with the aging effects of chronic sun exposure, the normal elastin structure is altered so that skin looses its firmness and ability to bounce back. The result is wrinkle formation and loss of skin firmness.

The researchers in Germany discovered that the water layers that surround the elastin fibers in the skin tissue can alter the normal structure of elastin so that it functions less efficiently. They then surmised that the bright, high intensity light from LEDs could be used to change the molecular structure of the water layer so that it frees up the elastin fibers. Once freed, the elastin could again perform their function of keeping skin firm and unwrinkled.

Does this proposed new skin wrinkle treatment work in actual practice? The researchers tested the new skin wrinkle treatment on a group of participants who were given nine weeks of daily light treatments with LEDs. At the end of this period, the study participants experienced a visible reduction in wrinkles and an improvement in skin texture and firmness lending support to the theory that LEDs may be beneficial in reducing the signs of skin aging.

Although this new skin wrinkle treatment needs study and further refinement before it could be released to the public, it could potentially be a less invasive alternative to cosmetic surgery and a less painful alternative to botox injections.

The researchers are also hoping the use of LEDs may have other applications within the medical field since elastin is found in other areas of the body including the heart and blood vessels. Will this potential new skin wrinkle treatment have wide reaching medical implications? Only time and further testing will reveal the answer.