Laser and light based treatments of acne

Medical treatments for acne vulgaris include a variety of topical and oral medications. Poor compliance, lack of durable remission, and potential side effects are common drawbacks to these treatments. Therefore, there is a growing demand for a fast, safe, and side-effect-free novel therapy. Acne often improves after exposure to sunlight, and this has led to the development of laser and other light therapies resulting in the overall ease of treatment, with minimal adverse effects. A variety of light and laser devices has been used for the treatment of acne, including the potassium titanyl phosphate laser, the 585- and 595-nm pulsed dye lasers, the 1450-nm diode laser, radiofrequency devices, intense pulsed light sources, and photodynamic therapy using 5-aminolevulinic acid and indocyanine green. These devices are thought to target the underlying pathogenic factors such as propionibacterium acnes colonization, increased sebaceous gland activity, and the cutaneous inflammatory response. In this article, we review the current status of light- and laser-based treatment of acne.