LED mask adheres to the curve of the face… KAIST develops LED mask that improves skin elasticity by 340%

Research team that developed a dermis-stimulating, face-adhering, surface-emitting micro LED mask. From left, KAIST Department of Materials Science and Engineering Master’s and PhD candidate Kim Min-seo, Distinguished Professor Lee Geon-jae, and PhD candidate Ahn Jae-hoon.

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST, President Lee Kwang-hyung) has succeeded in developing a wearable light-emitting diode (LED) mask that improves skin elasticity by 340% compared to existing products.

KAIST announced on the 29th that Professor Lee Geon-jae's team from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering developed a dermis-stimulating, face-adhering, surface-emitting micro LED mask that can suppress skin aging by utilizing 3,770 micro LEDs and a light diffusion layer (a layer that disperses the light from the light source to induce even light emission).

Existing products have a hard structure and a point-like light emission form (point-emitting method), so they do not adhere to the skin and cause light loss. Therapeutic light is not delivered evenly to the dermis.

The research team developed an LED mask that can adhere to facial curves and protruding areas by applying a 3D origami structure to a flexible substrate. It can deliver light evenly to the dermis at a depth of 1.5 millimeters (㎜). It stimulates mitochondria in the dermis and promotes collagen and elastic fiber synthesis.

Results of a clinical trial for a flexible surface-emitting micro LED mask

As a result, excellent improvement effects were confirmed in eight skin aging indicators, including skin elasticity, wrinkles, sagging, and pores. In a clinical trial at a university hospital with 33 subjects, it showed a statistically significant effect of improving skin elasticity in the dermis layer by 340% compared to the existing LED mask.

Professor Lee Geon-jae emphasized, “The newly developed face-contact surface-emitting mask will provide beauty effects to the entire facial dermis without the side effects of low-temperature burns, enabling home care aging treatment that improves the quality of life for humans.”

He also said, “We plan to start selling the product in earnest starting in November through the faculty-founded company Pronics, and we are currently establishing a clinical plan for a surface-emitting micro LED product for hair loss treatment.”

This study, in which Kim Min-seo, a master’s and doctoral candidate in the Department of Advanced Materials Engineering, and Ahn Jae-hoon, a doctoral candidate, participated as co-first authors, was published in the Advanced Materials on the 22nd. Meanwhile, this study was conducted with the support of the Global Center for Bio-Fusion Interfacing Materials (Leading Research Center).

Entered 2024.10.29. 10:13 AM Modified 2024.10.29. 11:58 AM Original article
Source [Electronic Newspaper] Reporter Kim Young-jun kyj85@etnews.com