Treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory acne vulgaris: photodynamic therapy with 5-aminolevulinic acid and a novel advanced fluorescence technology pulsed light source.
The use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 20% 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) for the treatment of acne vulgaris has been explored. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of a new Advanced Fluorescence Technology (AFT) pulsed light source (420-950 nm) for photoactivation in ALA PDT for the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory facial acne vulgaris. Nineteen subjects received 4 ALA PDT treatments with the AFT pulsed light source. Treatments were spaced 2 weeks apart. ALA was incubated for 15 to 30 minutes. At the end of the fourth treatment, the total reductions in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesion counts were 54.5% and 37.5%, respectively. Median Global Severity Scores suggest a trend toward reduction after several treatments. Investigator and subject assessments show moderate to marked improvement in most patients. The new AFT pulsed light source with ALA PDT appears to be a safe and effective modality for the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory acne vulgaris.
Gold
Michael H
MH
Gold Skin Care Center, Nashville, TN 37215, USA. drgold@goldskincare.com
Biron
Julie A
JA
Boring
Molly
M
Bridges
Tancy M
TM
Bradshaw
Virginia L
VL
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid