Role of the 585-nm pulsed dye laser in the treatment of acne in comparison with other topical therapeutic modalities.
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.
Leheta
Tahra M
TM
Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. lehetatahra@yahoo.com
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
D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid