Water-Filtered Infrared A Irradiation in Clinical Dermatology

Abstract

AbstractSo far, wIRA has primarily been used in the following dermatological conditions: wound healing, sclerosing skin diseases and common cutaneous warts. Accelerated healing of both acute (e.g., after surgery) and chronic (e.g., venous ulcers) wounds has been described in case reports, small case series and a randomized controlled trial. wIRA not only reduced pain and inflammation but also influenced wound secretion. It has also been shown to protect against infection and promote the formation of granulation tissue and wound re-epithelialisation. The therapeutic efficacy of wIRA in localized scleroderma and sclerotic cutaneous graft-versus-host disease is currently under investigation in a prospective Austrian two-center study. Previous reports on sclerosing skin disorders have indicated that wIRA might arrest disease activity, reduce skin sclerosis and improve joint motility. Finally, anecdotal evidence in immune-compromised twins and a randomized controlled trial on 80 patients have shown that wIRA might induce erradication of treatment-resistant common warts.wIRA appears to be a promising treatment approach for some challenging dermatological skin disorders. The treatment is easy to perform and devoid of any serious acute and chronic side effects. wIRA is well-accepted, since it generates a pleasant sensation in the skin.