Lasers and photodynamic therapy for the treatment of acne

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common diseases in the United States, affecting 40 to 50 million individuals. The condition is both a dermatologic and psychosocial challenge for many patients, and while topical therapy and cleansers continue to be the gold standard of treatment, the use of lasers and light will continue to play a role that will likely expand in management of acne. Modalities that have been explored include PDT with and without photosensitizers, KTP, PDL, infrared and fractional lasers. Current data evaluating these methods will be herewith discussed. The future application of these devices in acne therapy will likely include combination therapy and exploration of more precisely targeted chromophores.