title: Acne erythema improvement by long-pulsed 595-nm pulsed-dye laser treatment: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have demonstrated that pulsed-dye laser (PDL) treatment is beneficial for inflammatory acne treatment. However, persistent erythema after inflammatory acne vulgaris ('acne erythema') remains a therapeutic challenge. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of a long pulse duration 595-nm PDL (V-beam laser) therapy for the treatment of acne erythema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with acne erythema were treated using two successive sessions with a 595-nm PDL at 4-week intervals. Overall acne severities were assessed using Leeds scores, degree of improvement using standardized digital photographs, erythema indexes and skin elasticity findings at baseline, and 4 weeks after each treatment. Patients' self-assessments were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 90% of acne erythema patients achieved clinical improvement. Lesion counts decreased 24.9% after the first treatment (p<0.05) and by 57.6% (versus baseline) after the second treatment (p<0.05). Significant improvements were also noted in mean Leeds scores, erythema indexes, and skin elasticities after each treatment. Treatment-related pain was well-tolerated and adverse effects were limited to transient erythema and edema at treatment sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A long pulse duration 595-nm PDL was found to improve acne erythema with minimal discomfort and an increase in skin elasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Dong Hun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sun Ok
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyoung Chan
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang Woong
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Youn
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004548:Elasticity / Q000528:radiation effects; D004890:Erythema / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054025:Lasers, Dye / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome