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420 nm intense continuous light therapy for acne.
Tokuya Omi1, Peter Bjerring, Shigeru Sato
1Department of Dermatology, Queen's Square Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan. tom@olive.ocn.ne.jp
Summary
High-intensity, narrow-band blue light therapy, known as ClearLight, effectively treated acne with a 64.7% lesion improvement. This innovative acne treatment shows promise as a safe alternative to traditional therapies.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Phototherapy
- Acne Treatment
Background:
- Traditional acne therapies like systemic antibiotics and isotretinoin have limitations, including adverse side effects and contraindications during pregnancy.
- Alternative acne treatments are sought to improve patient safety and therapeutic outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a high-intensity, narrow-band blue light (ClearLight) system for treating facial acne.
- To investigate the clinical, bacterial, and ultrastructural effects of blue light therapy on acne vulgaris.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-eight adult volunteers with facial acne received eight biweekly 15-minute ClearLight treatment sessions.
- Clinical acne lesion counts, skin moisture, sebum, and pH were measured. Bacterial analysis and ultrastructural examinations were also performed.
Main Results:
- A significant 64.7% overall improvement in acne lesions was observed across all participants.
- No significant changes in bacterial counts were detected, but ultrastructural analysis revealed damage to Propionibacterium acnes.
- No adverse side effects were reported during the treatment period.
Conclusions:
- The ClearLight system, with eight treatment sessions over 4 weeks, demonstrates clinical utility in managing acne.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the mechanism of action for blue light therapy in acne treatment.