Beneficial Effect of Intense Pulsed Light on the Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats

Background and Objective Wound healing in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients is one of the major health concerns globally. Intense pulsed light (IPL) has been widely used in cosmetic dermatology via mechanisms involving fibroblast stimulation, collagen synthesis, and dermal remodeling, which are events that also occur during the process of wound healing. This present study was aimed to evaluate the possible beneficial effect of IPL on the wound healing in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods Diabetes was induced in Sprague–Dawley rats using streptozotocin. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, DM only group, DM rats with IPL treatment 2 weeks before wounding (DM + IPL‐Pre group), and DM rats with concurrent IPL exposure and wounding (DM + IPL‐Con group). The wounds were created on the dorsal skin of rats. Wound closure rate, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis were assessed. Results There were no significant differences in the wound closure rate and mean time to wound closure between IPL‐treated diabetic rats and normal rats. By contrast, delayed wound closure and prolonged mean time to wound closure were both noticed in DM only group. Enhanced collagen deposition and angiogenesis were observed in IPL‐Pre, but not IPL‐Con diabetic rats, as compared with untreated DM rats. Conclusion Results of this study may provide novel insight into future preventive strategies using IPL for the management of wounds in diabetic patients. Lasers Surg Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.