Efficacy of Blue Light Phototherapy in moderate to severe acne vulgaris

Abstract

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common skin diseases to affect adolescent. The mainstay treatment for acne is topical or systemic antibiotics and comedolytic agents. The more use of antibiotics, the rapid increase in the incidence of antibiotic resistance. The comedolytic medications especially retinoic acid are usually irritating to the skin. Therefore there is a need to develop different therapeutic options. Sun exposure is known to have some beneficial effects of patients with acne. Visible light in the blue range induces a photodestructive effect on Propionibacterium acnes that may take part in the decrease in acne severity.

Objective : To evaluate effectiveness of blue light (peak at 415 nm) therapy, adverse effects and patients’ preferation of the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris.

Patients and Methods : 15 patients with moderate to severe acne vulgaris, involving the face were enrolled. Before treatment, lesions were counted and recorded by lesion types. Patients were treated with blue light source (415 nm., 40 mW/cm²).    They were treated 2 times a week,  for a total of 4 weeks,  each field for 20 minute per  session. The preliminary analysis is a comparison of baseline lesion counts compared to follow up counts. Repeated Measures Define Factors was used to assess the differences in acne lesions between baseline and follow up 2 months after final treatment.

Results : The mean value of acne lesions in 15 patients were decreased 33.47% which was statistically significant (P<0.001). The mean value of comedone and papular lesions were decreased 23.37% and 58.19%, (P<0.001) after the treatment. There was no significantly decreasing in pustule and cystic lesions (P=0.061). About adverse effect, there was mild burning sensation in 2 patients (13%) and spontaneous improvement. The other 2 patients complained about hyperpigmentation, which was getting better in one week. At the end of treatment, 8 in 15 patients (53.34%) prefered blue light combine with other medications.

Conclusion : These results suggest that combination blue light with topical medications was beneficial, gave mild adverse effects and may be an alternative treatment for acne vulgaris.