1,726 nm laser effective in treating acne vulgaris

DENVER — A 1,726 nm laser was safe and effective in treating moderate to severe acne vulgaris, according to a study presented here.

“Acne is an inflammatory skin disease affecting the pilosebaceous units of the skin. It’s the most common skin condition in the United States that we all see in our practice, and it can have severe psychological affects and skin scarring,” Karan Lal, DO, MS, said during a video abstract presentation. “Unfortunately, there haven’t been that many new technologies that have been addressing acne in a permanent or semi-permanent option.”

A multi-center, prospective, open-label, single arm study included 104 patients with moderate to severe acne who received three full-face 30-minute treatments with a 1,726 nm laser spaced 2 to 5 weeks apart. There was no topical or local anesthetic used during the treatment period.

A reduction in inflammatory acne of at least 50% was recorded in 80% of the treatment population, with a 70% nodule count reduction observed at the 3-month follow-up visit.

An IGA improvement to clear or almost clear occurred in 31% of subjects, with 47% experiencing an improvement of at least 2 points in IGA score.

No serious adverse device effects such as burns or blisters were reported, although the treatment was mildly uncomfortable for some with an average discomfort score of 5.1 ± 1.7.

“This tells us that the 1,726 nm laser, which is now out in the market, is safe and effective for the treatment of mild to severe acne vulgaris in all skin types,” Lal said.