1,064 nm Nd:YAG laser treats acne, hyperpigmentation in patients with skin of color
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Key takeaways:
- Treating acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is important for patients with skin of color.
- 42% of the 1,064 nm Nd:YAG laser group saw decreased inflammatory lesions vs. 26% in the sham group.
NEW YORK — Dermatologists must treat post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation simultaneously with acne in patients with skin of color, which can be done using lasers, according to a study presented here.
“Patients are looking for technology. They are looking to find other ways to address their acne,” Valerie D. Callender, MD, FAAD, professor of dermatology at Howard University College of Medicine and medical director of Callender Dermatology & Cosmetic Center, said during her presentation at the Skin of Color Update 2023 meeting.
She went on to explain that “on average, patients are visiting five dermatologists before considering going to a med spa to seek technology rather than prescriptions.”
Clearly, a demand for technological options is rising for the treatment of acne, and dermatologists should have these options on hand in their office, Callender said.
In her presentation, Callender discussed new lasers available to patients and providers to treat acne, one of which is the 650 microsecond 1,064 nm Nd:YAG laser (NeoClear, Aerolase).
This laser, which is FDA-cleared for the treatment of mild to moderate inflammatory acne, targets primarily hemoglobin and water in skin tissue while avoiding collateral thermal damage.
The laser falls below thermal relaxation time, allowing a nearly painless process for patients without the need for cooling or numbing, Callender said. What is unique about the laser, according to Callender, is that it is gentle and safe on tanned skin and skin of color.
Callender referenced a double-blind study in which 20 subjects were randomly assigned to receive 1,064 nm Nd:YAG laser treatment or sham treatment. Results showed that 42% of the treatment group exhibited decreases in the number of inflammatory lesions vs. 26% in the sham group. Furthermore, sebum production was reduced by 18% in the treatment group vs. 9% in the sham group.
Most importantly, for patients with skin of color, treatment with the 1,064 nm Nd:YAG laser improved not only acne, but also post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). During his portion of the presentation that preceded Callender, Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH, cofounder and cochair of Skin of Color Update, explained that PIH is a result of acne that particularly plagues patients with skin of color.
“We must treat PIH and acne simultaneously in patients with skin of color,” he emphasized.
Treatments with the 1,064 nm Nd:YAG laser can be performed three to six times every 1 to 2 weeks; however, for patients with skin of color, Callender recommends these treatments be done 3 to 4 weeks apart.