New research shows that laser treatments can help to reduce inflammatory facial acne lesions with fewer side effects. Furthermore, it appears to work even with the darkest skin types. The findings of the research conducted, appear in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
The findings are based on a study of 22 patients, with light to dark skin types. These patients underwent three treatments with a 1450-nanometer diode laser at 3 to 4 week intervals. They received treatment at high or low doses on the left or the right sides of their faces.
After three treatments, average acne lesion counts were reduced by about 75% and 70% with the low and high dose treatment respectively.
These reductions basically stayed on at a 12-month follow-up examination. Side effects were minimal with typically transient redness and swelling, and the procedure-related pain was well tolerated. The results indicate that the laser is a safe and effective treatment for facial inflammatory acne vulgaris. They say it is “a suitable first-line, second-line, or (add-on) treatment modality for moderate to severe acne.”