Systematic Review Links Lasers and Energy-Based Devices to Reduced Cellular Senescence

A new systematic review suggests that lasers and other energy-based devices (EBDs) may reduce cellular senescence, offering a mechanistic basis for their role in skin rejuvenation and age-related dermatologic treatment.

Published inDermatologic Surgery, the review followed PRISMA guidelines to evaluate evidence from 23 original studies examining the cellular effects of various EBDs. The devices included lasers, intense pulsed light (IPL), radiofrequency, ultrasound, photobiomodulation, and photodynamic therapy. Articles were identified across PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science databases and selected based on relevance to dermatology and assessment of cellular senescence as an outcome.

Of the 23 included studies, 6 evaluated lasers, 11 focused on light-based devices, and 6 assessed other EBD technologies. Across modalities, the review found consistent evidence suggesting that these interventions positively modulate cellular senescence, with potential downstream effects such as reduced neocarcinogenesis and improved clinical signs of aging. Mechanistically, the findings imply a shared pathway through which EBDs may promote hormesis—a biological process where low-level stress enhances cellular resilience—thereby supporting skin anti-fragility and longevity.

“Literature evaluating the impact of lasers and EBDs on cellular senescence is scarce,” the authors wrote. “This review suggests that these modalities may reduce cellular senescence, thereby restoring cellular signaling and rejuvenating the skin. We propose that these effects represent a converging fundamental mechanism of hormesis promoting skin anti-fragility and longevity.”