Comparison of a pulsed dye laser and a combined 585/1,064-nm laser in the treatment of acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: The effect of combined 585/1,064-nm (sequential dual-wavelength pulsed dye laser (PDL) and neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet) laser therapy for acne vulgaris has not been evaluated.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of PDL and of combined 585/1,064-nm laser treatment for mild to moderate facial acne.

METHODS: A 12-week, randomized, prospective, split-face, double-blind study was performed. Sixteen participants with mild to moderate acne were treated with a single pass of a combined 585/1,064-nm laser on half of the face and PDL on the other half during each treatment session. Patients underwent three treatment sessions at 2-week intervals and were followed up at 8 and 12 weeks after treatment commencement.

RESULTS: At the final visit, inflammatory acne lesions were reduced by 86% on the PDL sides and by 89% on the 585/1,064-nm laser sides. Noninflammatory acne lesions showed corresponding reductions of 69% and 64%, respectively. A significant difference between the two treatments was observed for noninflammatory acne lesions at the eighth week. Histopathologic examinations showed that both treatments decreased inflammation and interleukin-8 expression and increased transforming growth factor beta expression.

CONCLUSIONS: PDL and combined 585/1,064 nm laser were safe and effective for the treatment of inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesions.