title: Photodynamic therapy using chlorophyll-a in the treatment of acne vulgaris: a randomized, single-blind, split-face study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chlorophyll-a is a novel photosensitizer recently tested for the treatment of acne vulgaris.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of chlorophyll-a photodynamic therapy used for acne treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with acne on both sides of the face were included. Eight treatment sessions were performed over a 4-week duration. Half of the face was irradiated using a blue and red light-emitting diode after topical application of chlorophyll-lipoid complex. The other half underwent only light-emitting diode phototherapy. The lesion counts and acne severity were assessed by a blinded examiner. Sebum secretion, safety, and histologic changes were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 24 subjects completed the study. Facial acne improved on both treated sides. On the chlorophyll-a photodynamic therapy-treated side, there were significant reductions in acne lesion counts, acne severity grades, and sebum levels compared with the side treated with light-emitting diode phototherapy alone. The side effects were tolerable in all the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All the subjects were of Asian descent with darker skin types, which may limit the generalizability of the study. A chlorophyll-a arm alone is absent, as is a no-treatment arm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that chlorophyll-a photodynamic therapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris can be effective and safe with minimal side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Byong Han
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Institute of Human-Environment Interface Biology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hyeon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Joo
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Seoul 365mc Obesity Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: kwinho@paran.com.
authors.forename: In Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Joong
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
keywords: acne vulgaris; chlorophyll-a; light-emitting diode; photodynamic therapy; photosensitizer; treatment