Dark patches on the face after a burn can change how a person sees themselves and how they feel about going out in public. A new study looked at whether adding a specific light therapy to standard wound care could help clear these marks faster. The researchers focused on ninety patients who had suffered second-degree burns and were left with facial hyperpigmentation, which is simply dark skin discoloration. They split the group so some received the light treatment plus dressings, while others got the dressings alone.
After three months, the group receiving both the light and the dressings saw a huge difference. Ninety-five percent of them achieved the goal of improving their skin, compared to sixty-one percent in the group using only dressings. The light therapy also helped reduce the size and darkness of the spots, leading to higher satisfaction scores. Patients reported feeling less anxious and depressed about their appearance when they saw their skin improving.
The treatment was generally safe, with only minimal side effects and no serious issues reported. However, ten patients did stop the study early, which is something to keep in mind. This research suggests that combining light therapy with standard care could be a powerful tool for burn survivors. But because this was a specific trial, doctors should discuss these new options carefully with each patient before starting treatment.