Beneficial Effects of Near-Infrared Light Photobiomodulation in Linear Morphea: A Case Report.

Background

Linear morphea is a variant of scleroderma limited to the skin and underlying tissues secondary to an autoimmune inflammation leading to excess collagen deposition and fibrosis. Apart from topical or oral medications, successful light-based treatments have been reported using phototherapy including Psoralen plus ultraviolet A, photodynamic therapy, carbon dioxide laser, pulsed dye laser, and visible/infrared light.

Methods

We report a patient with biopsy-proven infraorbital linear morphea responding to 940 nm near-infrared light photobiomodulation treatments.

Results

The patient had excellent cosmesis without textural changes or hypopigmentation despite her darker skin complexion (Fitzpatrick phototype III) after tri-weekly treatments for 8 months.

Conclusions

Linear morphea, therefore, may be potentially amenable to home use light-based therapy by using nonthermal nonablative 940 nm photons. To our knowledge, this home-based treatment approach has not been previously reported.