KISSIMMEE, FLA. Combined radiofrequency energy and indocyanine green-mediated pulsed light phototherapy proved highly effective for the treatment of acne in a study of 14 Fitzpatrick skin type IV patients with substantial facial acne.
The patients, who were aged 1635 years (mean age 25 years), and who had at least 10 inflamed facial acne lesions, were treated with 1 mg/mL indocyanine green (ICG) cream, which was applied to the face for 30 minutes and then wiped off. This was followed by combination pulsed light at 580980 nm, and a radiofrequency device, Syneron Medical Ltd.'s Aurora SR, at an optical energy of 1822 J/cm
The patients, who received no topical or oral acne medications in the 2 months prior to study initiation, received three treatments at 4-week intervals. Lesion count decreased by 18%, 49%, 68%, and 76%, at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks, respectively, after the initial treatment, said Dr. Rho of the Leaders Clinic in Seoul, South Korea.
Follow-up at 1, 4, 7, and 14 days after each treatment showed that side effects were minimal, and included only transient stinging and slight peeling, said Dr. Rho, who reported that he had no financial disclosures associated with his presentation.
ICG-mediated near-infrared light phototherapy has received a great deal of attention for the treatment of acne because of its sebaceous gland selectivity and high penetration depth. In addition, radiofrequency energy is known to reduce sebum production. Together, these treatments can substantially reduce the number of acne lesions, he said.
A 31-year-old female patient is shown before treatment (top). Improvement is seen after one session (bottom). Photos courtesy Dr. Nark-Kyoung Rho
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