Non-invasive and painless mid-infrared modulation increases collagen in human and mouse skin

Stimulating collagen production in skin helps to enhance vitality while decelerating aging-associated processes in skin tissue. However, current approaches to enhancing collagen production are commonly limited by accompanying pain and trauma. Here, we report that mid-infrared modulation (MIMO) at an intensity of 70 mW/cm2 promotes collagen production in human or mouse skin in vivo without generating excessive heat. We found that protein levels of the collagen-degrading endopeptidase, MMP-1, were decreased in the skin of mice following MIMO treatment, whereas the collagen synthesis-related factors, TGF-β, HSP47, and HSP70, were all increased. In addition, MIMO stimulated collagen secretion in human dermal fibroblasts in vitro. This work demonstrates that MIMO is an effective, non-invasive, and painless intervention for in vivo enhancement of collagen production in the skin.