Abstract:

【Abstract】Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intensive pulsed light and topical 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy in patients with inflammatory acne . Methods 41 patients with moderate to severe facial acne were randomly assigned to ALA-IPL-PDT group and IPL group. 10% topical ALA emulsions were applied on the faces of ALA-IPL-PDT group patients, while ALA free placeboes were applied on those of IPL group patients. After 60 minutes’ occlusion, all patients were treated with 420nm~950nm IPL. The patients in both groups had 4 treatment sessions at 1-week interval. 1 week after each treatment and 4,8,12 weeks after 4 treatments, efficacy and safety were evaluated. Results 12 weeks after 4 treatments, the effective rates of IPL-ALA-PDT group and IPL group were 81.0% and 35.0%, and the mean efficacy indexes were 75.2% and 51.0%. In IPL-ALA-PDT group, the mean clearance of inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions was (83.6±4.1)% and (57.5±6.8)% respectively. There are no severe adverse effects like hyperpigmentation, blister and crusting. Conclusions The ALA-IPL-PDT is an effective and alternative treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory acne, associated with no hyperpigmentation and other severe adverse effects. The treatment effect is able to last for 12 weeks after treatments.

Key words: Acne