ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Topical and systemic drugs have been successfully used in the treatment of acne. However, many people are concerned about the side effects of these medicines, especially the childbearing women. Recent reports demonstrated that sequential treatment with laser- and light-based devices lead to a clinical improvement in acne. Recently, we witnessed experienced a case of improvement of inflammatory acne lesions during the treatment of acne scars using a 1,550-nm non-ablative fractional erbium-glass laser. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of 1,550-nm non-ablative fractional erbium-glass laser in the treatment of facial inflammatory acne vulgaris. METHODS: 11 patients with facial inflammatory acne vulgaris were recruited. These patients received three treatment sessions at a 3-week interval. Inflammatory lesions were counted before and after treatment. The sebum production was quantified using the Sebumeter(R). We graded the patients' self-assessment and the investigator's global assessment using a five-point scale used by the dermatologist. We also investigated the histological changes after the treatment sessions, and the adverse effects during the study. RESULTS: Treatment with 1,550-nm non-ablative fractional erbium-glass laser was well tolerated, resulting in the reduction of inflammatory lesions by 61% (p<0.05). However, the reduction in sebum production from the baseline was not statistically significant. Histopathologic examination of the inflammatory lesions showed a marked decrease in the dermal inflammatory cell infiltration around the perivascular and periappendageal area and the sebaceous glands became smaller after laser treatments. Side-effects were minimal, and were resolved within a few days. CONCLUSION: 1,550-nm non-ablative fractional erbium-glass laser was safe and effective for the treatment of facial inflammatory acne lesions.