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Use of gold microparticles plus Nd:YAG laser improves acne
CHICAGO — Combining the use of gold microparticles with laser-mediated photothermolysis and topical retinoids was associated with a 61% reduction in inflammatory lesion count at 3 months among patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, according to data presented at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery annual meeting.
“The gold microparticles are FDA approved and CE marked for use in Europe,” Ashish Bhatia, MD, FAAD, dermatologist at Oak Dermatology in Illinois, said during his presentation.
He explained the process: First, the skin is cleansed, then the gold microparticles (Sebacia), which are in a suspension, are applied and massaged into the hair follicles. The microparticles are then activated with an Nd:YAG laser.
Bhatia and colleagues conducted a US registry study of 75 patients with mild to moderate inflammatory acne at six centers. Patients were pretreated with a topical retinoid, such as tazarotene, adapalene/benzoyl peroxide, tretinoin or adapalene, for at least 2 weeks prior to treatment.
Treatment consisted of gold microparticle suspension applied via topical massage followed by laser pulses of 30-millisecond duration (20-35 J/cm2, 5-15 mm spot, 1,064 nm wavelength) in-office, once a week for 3 weeks. Topical therapy was continued without interruption, and inflammatory lesion count occurred at baseline, 2, 3 and 6 months after treatment. The primary endpoint was mean percent reduction in inflammatory lesion count at 3 months.
Mean age of patients was 21.1 years and 47 were women. Seventy-two patients completed follow-up at months 2 and 3.
Bhatia reported the mean inflammatory lesion count decreased by about 53% at 2 months and by 61% at 3 months.
Patients were satisfied with their results: 89% thought their acne improved a moderate amount or better; 93% said they’d receive the treatment again and 99% said they would recommend treatment to a friend. Pain scores were similar to those seen with laser hair removal at four out of five.
“Gold microparticles ... are a nice adjunct therapy to use for our patients with inflammatory acne who may not necessarily want to go on to other treatments. Pretreatment with retinoids definitely helps, and there’s a high degree of patient satisfaction,” Bhatia said. – by Stacey L. Adams
Reference:
Bhatia A, et al. Acne vulgaris treatment with gold microparticles and laser pulses to achieve photothermolysis of sebaceous follicles in patients using topical retinoids. Presented at: American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Annual Meeting; Oct. 24-27, 2019; Chicago.
Disclosure: The study was sponsored by Sebacia.