title: Role of the 585-nm pulsed dye laser in the treatment of acne in comparison with other topical therapeutic modalities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acne vulgaris is a disease of the pilosebaceous unit characterized by the development of inflammatory and/or non-inflammatory lesions that may progress to scars. The increase of bacterial resistance and adverse effects, the teratogenicity of retinoids and lack of response to usual therapies has led to the investigation of new therapeutic alternatives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of the pulsed dye laser in the treatment of acne in comparison with other topical therapeutic modalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 45 patients with mild to moderate acne. Patients were randomly divided into three groups: group A received treatment with pulsed dye laser therapy every 2 weeks, group B received topical preparations and group C was subjected to chemical peeling using trichloroacetic acid 25%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12 weeks of treatment, there was a significant improvement of the lesions within each group with the best results seen in group A; however, no significant difference was detected between the three treatment protocols after the treatment period. Remission in the follow-up period was significantly higher in the first group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulse dye laser therapy mainly improves the inflammatory lesions of acne with few adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. lehetatahra@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Tahra M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Leheta
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002615:Chemexfoliation / Q000379:methods*; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054025:Lasers, Dye / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid