A pilot investigation comparing low-energy, double pass 1,450 nm laser treatment of acne to conventional single-pass, high-energy treatment

A pilot investigation comparing low-energy, double pass 1,450 nm laser treatment of acne to conventional single-pass, high-energy treatment
Accepted: 26 July 2006
Published Online: 18 Sep 2006
Eric F. Bernstein, MD *
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine
Wiley InterScience

Copyright © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company

Laser Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatology Centers, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

email: Eric F. Bernstein (dermguy@hotmail.com)

*Correspondence to Eric F. Bernstein, Bryn Mawr Center for Laser Surgery, 931 Haverford Road, 2nd Floor, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Parts of this study were presented at the 25th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery in Boston, Massachusetts on April 9, 2006.

Keywords
laser Ô acne Ô diode Ô non-ablative

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Laser treatment using a 1,450 nm diode laser has been shown to improve acne and acne scarring. Its widespread adoption in younger populations has been significantly limited by discomfort.

Study Design/Materials and Methods
Six subjects with active papular acne were treated in a pilot study to determine parameters for a split-face, double-pass, low-energy protocol of 1,450 nm laser treatment. Sides of the face were randomized to receive single-pass, high-energy treatment (13-14 J/cm2), or double-pass, low energy treatment (8-11 J/cm2), for a total of four treatments delivered at monthly intervals. Acne counts and standardized, digital photograph were performed 2 months following the final treatment, and compared to pre-treatment counts and photographs.

Results
Improvement was evaluated comparing pre- and post-treatment photos and averaged 2.5 for the high-energy, single-pass side and 2.3 for the low-energy, double-pass side, using a 0 (worse) to 4 (max improvement) scale. Acne counts were reduced 78% on the high-energy, single-pass side and 67% on the low-energy, double-pass side. Pain ratings on a 1 (min) to 10 (max) scale averaged 5.6 (range 1-9) for the high-energy, single-pass side and 1.3 (range 1-2) for the low-energy, double-pass side.

Conclusions
Low-energy, double-pass 1,450 nm laser treatment effectively reduces acne counts 2 months post-treatment, and dramatically reduces the pain associated with treatment. The treatment parameters used in this study have eliminated the need for anesthetic cream in daily practice. Lasers Surg. Med. 39:193-198, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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Accepted: 26 July 2006
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1002/lsm.20401

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