Local and systemic photobiomodulation using a 650 nm LED on skin temperature and hyperalgesia in cellulite: a randomized, placebo-controlled and double-blinded clinical trial

Abstract

Cellulite is a skin condition that significantly affects women, characterized by "holes" or depressions in the skin, affecting approximately 95% of women at some point in their lives. Cellulite often presents inflammatory symptoms such as increased skin temperature and hyperalgesia. Photobiomodulation, whether applied locally or systemically, has demonstrated important anti-inflammatory effects in various conditions. This study investigates the effects of local and systemic photobiomodulation on hip culottes temperature increases and hyperalgesia in patients with grades 2 to 4 cellulite. Cellulite assessment was carried out using detailed anamnesis, photographic records, algometry, and infrared thermography. Participants received randomized bilateral treatment with or without systemic irradiation using LED photobiomodulation on the hip culottes for four weeks, three times a week. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of photobiomodulation, especially locally applied, together or not with systemic irradiation, on cellulite hyperalgesia and skin temperature among 25 female participants. The group that received only LED treatment showed an increase in pain threshold of 8% and 20% on the right and left sides, respectively, while the group treated with LED + ILIB showed an increase in pain threshold of 32% on both sides. Local photobiomodulation produced a skin temperature decrease of 0.4 °C, while the combination of local and systemic irradiation produced an average skin temperature decrease of 1.2 °C. Our results clearly demonstrate a significantly beneficial effect of LED therapy for cellulite treatment, especially when administered in combination with mILIB, leading to a significant reduction of pain hypersensitivity and skin temperature, indicating a regional subcutaneous improvement of the inflammatory status.

Keywords: Cellulite; ILIB; Infrared thermography; LED; Photobiomodulation; RCT.