BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and red light (550-700 nm) has been introduced for effective treatment of facial acne. Untoward side effects are common, however. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the short contact of topical ALA and intense pulsed light (IPL) in treatment of inflammatory facial acne. METHODS: Fourteen patients with inflammatory facial acne were treated with IPL on the left side and combination of IPL and topical ALA on the right side at 3- to 4-week intervals for three sessions. Clinical photographs and lesion counts were obtained for evaluation. RESULTS: All patients revealed a reduction in number of acne lesions on both sides. On the ALA-pretreated side, lesion counts decreased 87.7% at 12 weeks after the last treatment (p < .01). Meanwhile, lesion counts on the nonpretreated side decreased 66.8% (p < .01). In addition, a number of lesion counts on the ALA-pretreated side decreased. Mild edema and minimal crust developed on the combined-treatment side. CONCLUSION: Short contact of topical ALA and IPL or IPL alone showed some beneficial effect in treatment of inflammatory facial acne; however, degree of improvement was better and remained longer with the combined regimen. Side effects were mild and reversible.
BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and red light (550-700 nm) has been introduced for effective treatment of facial acne. Untoward side effects are common, however. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the short contact of topical ALA and intense pulsed light (IPL) in treatment of inflammatory facial acne. METHODS: Fourteen patients with inflammatory facial acne were treated with IPL on the left side and combination of IPL and topical ALA on the right side at 3- to 4-week intervals for three sessions. Clinical photographs and lesion counts were obtained for evaluation. RESULTS: All patients revealed a reduction in number of acne lesions on both sides. On the ALA-pretreated side, lesion counts decreased 87.7% at 12 weeks after the last treatment (p < .01). Meanwhile, lesion counts on the nonpretreated side decreased 66.8% (p < .01). In addition, a number of lesion counts on the ALA-pretreated side decreased. Mild edema and minimal crust developed on the combined-treatment side. CONCLUSION: Short contact of topical ALA and IPL or IPL alone showed some beneficial effect in treatment of inflammatory facial acne; however, degree of improvement was better and remained longer with the combined regimen. Side effects were mild and reversible.
Authors: Gitika B Kharkwal; Sulbha K Sharma; Ying-Ying Huang; Tianhong Dai; Michael R Hamblin Journal: Lasers Surg Med Date: 2011-09 Impact factor: 4.025
Authors: Jelena Barbaric; Rachel Abbott; Pawel Posadzki; Mate Car; Laura H Gunn; Alison M Layton; Azeem Majeed; Josip Car Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2016-09-27