title: Randomized trial of three phototherapy methods for the treatment of acne vulgaris in Chinese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acne vulgaris is common in Asian populations. We compared three methods of phototherapy for the treatment of moderate to severe facial acne vulgaris in Chinese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly assigned to receive photodynamic therapy (PDT), intense pulsed light (IPL) or blue-red light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy to the right side of the face until the inflammatory lesion count reduced by ≥ 90%. Patients were examined at 1 and 3 months after the final treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We enrolled 150 patients (92 males; mean age, 28 years). At 1 month, ≥90% clearance or moderate improvement occurred in 46/50 (92%), 29/50 (58%) and 22/50 (44%) patients in the PDT, IPL and LED groups, respectively (mean number of sessions required, PDT: 3 ± 1.52; IPL: 6 ± 2.15; LED: 9 ± 3.34). Forty-six (92%) patients experienced mild to moderate pain, erythema and edema after PDT, which resolved within 5-7 days. Slight erythema and stinging were reported immediately after IPL and LED, resolving within 2 h. After 3 months, minimal papules and pustules were observed in 4 patients in the PDT group, 7 in the IPL group and 12 in the LED group, but no nodular pustules recurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phototherapy is efficacious for moderate to severe facial acne vulgaris.
authors: Department of Dermatology, General Hospital of Beijing Military Region of PLA, Beijing, China.
authors: Li-Hong
authors: LH
authors: Liu
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Fan
authors: Yu-Xi
authors: YX
authors: An
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Cong-Min
authors: CM
authors: Wang
authors: Rong-Ya
authors: RY
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: acne vulgaris; intense pulsed light; light-emitting diode; photodynamic therapy