title: A randomized, controlled, split-face clinical trial of 1320-nm Nd:YAG laser therapy in the treatment of acne vulgaris.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a need for additional effective treatments for acne vulgaris. Laser therapy has been explored as a therapeutic option for acne, but rigorously designed studies in this area have been limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to examine the efficacy of an infrared laser in the treatment of acne.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized, controlled, single-blind, split-face clinical trial of 46 patients with facial acne. Patients received a series of 3 nonablative laser treatments using a novel neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser to half of the face. Serial blinded lesion counts and global acne severity rating of standardized bilateral patient photographs were performed. Sebum production was measured, and patient self-assessment surveys were administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A transient but statistically significant improvement in lesion counts of open comedones was demonstrated in treated skin as compared with untreated skin. There were no significant differences between treated and control sides of the face in terms of changes in mean papule or pustule counts. Grading of serial photographs revealed no significant differences between treated and untreated skin. Patient surveys indicated that the majority of patients found the treatments to be at least mildly effective for both acne and oiliness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study only addresses the efficacy of a single laser system employing a specific treatment regimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infrared laser therapy may improve comedonal acne. Additional work is needed to better define the degree and duration of the effect. Patients appear to positively view such therapy for both acne and oily skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0314, USA. jorringe@umich.edu
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Orringer
authors.forename: Sewon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Dana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.forename: Darius J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Karimipour
authors.forename: Yolanda R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Helfrich
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Voorhees
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000328:Adult; D000535:Aluminum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D009354:Neodymium; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012629:Sebum / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015019:Yttrium
chemical_list: C503779:yttrium-aluminum-garnet; D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium; D000535:Aluminum