Comparison of a Pulsed Dye Laser and a Combined 585/1,064‐nm Laser in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris

BACKGROUND The effect of combined 585/1,064‐nm (sequential dual‐wavelength pulsed dye laser (PDL) and neodymium‐doped yttrium aluminium garnet) laser therapy for acne vulgaris has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy and safety of PDL and of combined 585/1,064‐nm laser treatment for mild to moderate facial acne. METHODS A 12‐week, randomized, prospective, split‐face, double‐blind study was performed. Sixteen participants with mild to moderate acne were treated with a single pass of a combined 585/1,064‐nm laser on half of the face and PDL on the other half during each treatment session. Patients underwent three treatment sessions at 2‐week intervals and were followed up at 8 and 12 weeks after treatment commencement. RESULTS At the final visit, inflammatory acne lesions were reduced by 86% on the PDL sides and by 89% on the 585/1,064‐nm laser sides. Noninflammatory acne lesions showed corresponding reductions of 69% and 64%, respectively. A significant difference between the two treatments was observed for noninflammatory acne lesions at the eighth week. Histopathologic examinations showed that both treatments decreased inflammation and interleukin‐8 expression and increased transforming growth factor beta expression. CONCLUSIONS PDL and combined 585/1,064 nm laser were safe and effective for the treatment of inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesions.