Treatment of Acne Vulgaris With a Pulsed Dye Laser

Abstract

Context The high prevalence of acne vulgaris and its significant morbidity underscore the need for convenient, low-risk, and efficacious therapy. Treatment with various lasers has been reported to improve acne. Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of pulsed dye laser therapy in the treatment of acne. Design, Setting, and Patients Randomized, single-blind, controlled, split-face clinical trial of a volunteer sample of 40 patients aged 13 years or older with facial acne conducted at an academic referral center from August 2002 to September 2003. Intervention One or 2 nonpurpuric pulsed dye laser treatments to half of the face (fluence of 3 J/cm 2), serial blinded clinical assessments (lesion counts), and grading of acne severity using standardized bilateral serial photographs. Main Outcome Measures Comparison of the changes in lesion counts from baseline to 12 weeks between treated and untreated sides of the face and changes in photographic evidence of acne severity as graded by a panel of dermatologists blinded to treatment assignment. Results After 12 weeks, using intent-to-treat analysis with last observation carried forward, there were no significant differences between laser-treated and untreated skin for changes in mean papule counts (−4.2 vs −2.2; P=.08), mean pustule counts (0 vs −1.0; P=.12), or mean comedone counts (2.9 vs 1.6; P=.63). Grading of serial photographs confirmed the clinical assessments, showing no significant mean (SE) differences in Leeds scores (range, 1-12) for treated skin (3.98 [0.32] at baseline and 3.94 [0.27] at week 12) compared with untreated skin (3.83 [0.32] at baseline and 3.79 [0.28] at week 12) (PϾ.99). Conclusions In this study, the nonpurpuric pulsed dye laser therapy did not result in significant improvement of facial acne. More research is needed before this laser therapy may be recommended as an acne treatment.

A pilot investigation comparing low‐energy, double pass 1,450 nm laser treatment of acne to conventional single‐pass, high‐energy treatment

“…Virtually the full spectrum of visible radiation has been used to treat acne [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Blue wavelengths of visible light have been used to exploit endogenous porphyrins in proprionibacterium acnes bacteria, targeting these bacteria and reducing their numbers [11,12].…”

“…Blue wavelengths of visible light have been used to exploit endogenous porphyrins in proprionibacterium acnes bacteria, targeting these bacteria and reducing their numbers [11,12]. Visible lasers targeting hemoglobin have also been shown to have activity against acne [19][20][21]. Photodynamic therapy, using a variety of visible wavelengths and a number of photosensitizing dyes, has been used to treat acne [17,18].…”

Treatment of Active Acne Vulgaris by Chemical Peeling Using TCA 35%

“…Lasers have been used effectively in treatment of acne vulgaris using Diode and PDL using one or three sessions of laser but there is one study using PDL showed no significant improvement of facial acne using single session [13][14][15].…”

“…While another study also using Diode laser didn't show significant improvement of facial acne [13][14][15].…”

Phototherapy versus Adapalene 0.1% Gel in Treatment of Acne Vulgaris

“…The presence of P. acnes promotes inflammation through a variety of mechanisms. P. acnes stimulates inflammation by producing pro-inflammatory mediators that diffuse through the follicle wall [3][4][5][6][7][8].…”