A randomized controlled study for the treatment of acne vulgaris using high-intensity 414 nm solid state diode arrays

Abstract

The treatment of acne vulgaris poses a challenge to the dermatologist, and the disease causes emotional anxiety for the patient. The treatment of acne vulgaris may be well-suited to home-use applications, where sufferers may be too embarrassed to seek medical treatment. This randomized controlled study is designed to quantify the effectiveness of using a blue light device in a therapy combined with proprietary creams, in the investigation of a self-treatment regimen. A total of 41 adults with mild-to-moderate facial inflammatory acne were recruited. The subjects were randomly assigned to combination blue light therapy (n = 26) or control (n = 15). Photography was used for qualitative assessment of lesion counts, at weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12. All subjects in the treatment cohort achieved a reduction in their inflammatory lesion counts after 12 weeks. The mean inflammatory lesion counts reduced by 50.02% in the treatment cohort, and increased by 2.45% in the control cohort. The reduction in inflammatory lesions was typically observable at week-3, and maximal between weeks 8 and 12. The treatment is free of pain and side-effects. The blue light device offers a valuable alternative to antibiotics and potentially irritating topical treatments. Blue light phototherapy, using a narrow-band LED light source, appears to be a safe and effective additional therapy for mild to moderate acne.

An extension of a multicenter, randomized, split‐face clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of chromophore gel‐assisted blue light phototherapy for the treatment of acne

“…However, phototherapy using blue light has been shown to significantly reduce inflamed acne lesions when irradiated for over eight treatment sessions in 30 subjects with mild to moderate facial acne . Recently, a randomized controlled study by Ash et al . reported that blue light therapy at 414 nm significantly reduces inflammatory acne lesions by 50.02% at the 12‐week assessment.…”

“…However, phototherapy using blue light has been shown to significantly reduce inflamed acne lesions when irradiated for over eight treatment sessions in 30 subjects with mild to moderate facial acne. 48 Recently, a randomized controlled study by Ash et al 49 reported that blue light therapy at 414 nm significantly reduces inflammatory acne lesions by 50.02% at the 12-week assessment. In our previous multicenter, randomized, split-face study, we demonstrated that the use of chromophore-assisted blue light phototherapy twice weekly for 6 weeks was efficacious, resulting in a reduction of at least 2 grades in the IGA scale in a statistically significant number of treated hemifaces of patients at 12 weeks (51.7% compared to 18.0% of the untreated hemifaces).…”

Blue-Light Therapy for Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…3,15,21,27 Three trials combined the light intervention with topical treatments as adjuncts. 21,24,25 Five trials compared the blue light with no treatment or a sham device. Other comparators included topical cleansers (such as benzoyl peroxide), other topical agents such as salicylic acid to promote desquamation, or retinol.…”

“…26 Two trials reported the number of AEs for the trial overall rather than by treatment group 3,16 ; few AEs were reported, and 4 trials reported narratively that the treatment had no side effects or was side-effect free. 15,18,24,25…”

Treatment of Acneiform Eruptions, Acne and Acne Scars with Surgery, Lasers and Light-Based Devices

“…Anti-inlammatory efect on keratinocyte occurs by reducing IL-1 and ICAM markers. As stated before, when porphyrin produced by P. acnes absorbs light, it produces free oxygen radicals being toxic for the bacteria [13,14].…”