INTRODUCTION
Acne affects approximately 50 million people in the United States.1 Therapies include retinoids, antibiotics, hormones, lights, lasers, and various combinations of these modalities.2 Topical and/or oral medications are associated with adverse effects, partial response, contraindications, and reoccurrences.3
The advantages and disadvantages of various lasers used alone or in combination with other modalities to treat acne have been described.2 Reluctance to use laser devices historically for acne therapy has included concerns about pigmentary side effects (particularly on Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI), treatment pain, and low treatment efficacy.
A recent review4 reported that high-level studies support the effectiveness of Nd:YAG laser devices compared with other laser devices. The present study evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of a 650-microsecond, pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of mild to severe facial acne vulgaris.
The advantages and disadvantages of various lasers used alone or in combination with other modalities to treat acne have been described.2 Reluctance to use laser devices historically for acne therapy has included concerns about pigmentary side effects (particularly on Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI), treatment pain, and low treatment efficacy.
A recent review4 reported that high-level studies support the effectiveness of Nd:YAG laser devices compared with other laser devices. The present study evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of a 650-microsecond, pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of mild to severe facial acne vulgaris.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Design
Subjects (n=23, aged 29.4 ± 6.7 years [mean ± SD], 20 females and 3 males, Fitzpatrick skin types I-II [35%], III [9%], IV [30%], V[17%], VI [9%]) with mild (4%), moderate (57%), or severe (39%) acne enrolled in the prospective, single-center study.
Subjects received 5 treatments at 2-week intervals with the 650-microsecond, 1064-nm, pulsed Nd:YAG laser (Neo Elite, Aerolase Corp., Tarrytown, NY) without topical anesthetic. At visit 1, qualified subjects (n = 20) received a physical exam, dermatological history, and review of concomitant medications. Women of childbearing potential were required to have a negative urine pregnancy test at each treatment visit. Follow-up visits were 30 days and 90 days after the final treatment. At each visit, photographs, adverse event inquiries, subject global assessments (treatment pain, satisfaction with treatment, posttreatment improvement, self-esteem), lesion counts, investigator’s global assessments (IGA), and safety appraisals were performed. Subjects did not use anti-acne prescription or doi:10.36849/JDD.8171
Subjects (n=23, aged 29.4 ± 6.7 years [mean ± SD], 20 females and 3 males, Fitzpatrick skin types I-II [35%], III [9%], IV [30%], V[17%], VI [9%]) with mild (4%), moderate (57%), or severe (39%) acne enrolled in the prospective, single-center study.
Subjects received 5 treatments at 2-week intervals with the 650-microsecond, 1064-nm, pulsed Nd:YAG laser (Neo Elite, Aerolase Corp., Tarrytown, NY) without topical anesthetic. At visit 1, qualified subjects (n = 20) received a physical exam, dermatological history, and review of concomitant medications. Women of childbearing potential were required to have a negative urine pregnancy test at each treatment visit. Follow-up visits were 30 days and 90 days after the final treatment. At each visit, photographs, adverse event inquiries, subject global assessments (treatment pain, satisfaction with treatment, posttreatment improvement, self-esteem), lesion counts, investigator’s global assessments (IGA), and safety appraisals were performed. Subjects did not use anti-acne prescription or doi:10.36849/JDD.8171
