title: Long-pulsed dye laser versus long-pulsed dye laser-assisted photodynamic therapy for acne vulgaris: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long-pulsed dye laser (LPDL)-assisted photodynamic therapy has been suggested to be superior to laser alone for acne vulgaris but no evidence is available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of LPDL alone versus LPDL in photodynamic therapy with methylaminolevulinic acid (MAL-LPDL) for acne vulgaris.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients received a series of 3 full-face LPDL treatments and half-face prelaser MAL treatments; the latter being randomly assigned to the left or right side.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inflammatory lesions were reduced more on MAL-LPDL-treated than on LPDL-treated sides (week 4: 70% vs 50%, P = .003; week 12: 80% vs 67%, P = .004). Noninflammatory lesions reduced similarly. Patient satisfaction was slightly greater with MAL-LPDL versus LPDL treatments (scale 0-10: week 4: 7 vs 6, P = .034; week 12: 8 vs 7.5, P = .034). Fluorescence measurements detected photobleaching with MAL-LPDL (35.3%) and LPDL (7.3%) treatments (P < .001). Erythema, edema, and pustular eruptions intensified from MAL incubation. No patients experienced pigment changes or scarring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sample size was limited. The split-face design in this randomized controlled trial does not allow us to draw conclusions about the efficacy of the LPDL, only about the efficacy of MAL-LPDL compared with LPDL alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MAL-LPDL is slightly superior to LPDL for the treatment of inflammatory acne.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. mhaedersdal@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haedersdal
authors.forename: Katrine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Togsverd-Bo
authors.forename: Stine Regin
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Wiegell
authors.forename: Hans Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wulf
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000328:Adult; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000378:metabolism; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011524:Protoporphyrins; C475457:methyl 5-aminolevulinate; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid; C028025:protoporphyrin IX