| ACNE TREATMENT | PEER-REVIEW
Home blue light therapy devices for acne vulgaris For completeness in this article, it has been decided to briefly mention the home-use acne market for medical devices. This has been thoroughly reviewed elsewhere and will not be done here. It is important to note that all home blue light sources for acne vulgaris (as well as for rejuvenation) are different in that their light energy output is real in some cases, and not so real, as reported, in other cases. Patients must rely on reliable companies with reliable clinical data in making a proper determination on which home blue light source is right for them. A number of years ago, the author reported on the
Tanda Blue Light System and the Tanda Zap for home use 17,18
. These are small, portable devices that have
shown effectiveness in improving inflammatory acne vulgaris. Others, such as the Tria Blue are also effective in treating inflammatory acne vulgaris, and at this time, these remain the most popular of the take-home blue light sources. Again, the literature has reviewed this topic in detail.
References
1. Leyden JJ. Therapy for acne vulgaris. N Engl J Med 1997; 336: 1156–62
2. Gold MH. Phototherapy for acne: what is the best approach. Expert Rev Dermatol 2010; 5(2): 159–72
3. Gollnick H, Cunliffe W, Berson D et al. Management of acne: a report from a Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003; 49(suppl 1): S1–37
4. Velicer CM, Heckbert SR, Lampe JW et al. Antibiotic use in relation to the risk of breast cancer. JAMA 2004; 291(7): 827–35
5. Ellis CN, Krach KJ. Uses and complications of isotretinoin therapy. J Am Acad Dermatol 2001; 45(5): S150–7
6. Sigurdsson V, Knulst AC, van Weelden H. Phototherapy of acne vulgaris with visible
light. Dermatology 1997; 194(3): 256–60
7. Gold MH. Acne and PDT: new techniques with lasers and lasers sources. Lasers Med Sci 2007; 22(2): 67–72
8. Kawada A, Aragane Y, Kameyama H, Sangen Y, Tezuka T. Acne phototherapy with a high-intensity, enhanced narrow-band, blue light source: an open study and in vitro investigation. J Dermatolog Sci 2002; 30(2): 129–35
9. Shalita AR, Harth Y, Elman M. Acne photoclearing using a novel, high-intensity, enhanced, narrow-band blue light source. Clin Application Notes 2001; 9(1): 1–4
10. Gold MH. The utilization of ALA-PDT and a new photoclearing device for the treatment of severe inflammatory acne vulgaris –results of an initial clinical trial. J Lasers Surg Med
2003; 15(S): 46
11. Papageorgiou P, Katsambas A, Chu A. Phototherapy with boule (415 nm) and red (660 nm) light in the treatment of acne. Br J Dermatol 2000; 142(5): 973–78
12. Meffert H, Gaunitz K, Gutewort T, Amlong UJ. Therapy of acne with visible light; decreased irradiation time by using a blue-light high energy lamp. Dermatol Monatssehr 1990; 176: 597–603
Goldman MP. Atkin D, Kincad S. PDT/ALA in the treatment of actinic damage; real world experience. J Lasers Surg Med 2002; 14(S): 24
13. Gold MH, Goldman MP. A multi-center investigatory study of the treatment of mild to moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris with visible blue light in comparison to topical 1% clindamycin antibiotic solution. J Am Acad
Dermatol 2004; 50(S): 56
14.
ClinicalTrials.gov. Light Dose Ranging Study of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) With Levulan + Blue Light Versus Vehicle + Blue Light in Severe Facial Acne.
http://tinyurl.com/ d93d2wn (accessed 3 May 2013)
15. Dierickx CC, Capezzera R, Pedretti A, et al. Lasers, light, and radiofrequency for treatment of acne. Med Laser Appl 2004; 19: 196–204
16. Gold MH, Andriessen A, Biron J et al. Clinical efficacy of self-applied blue light therapy for mild-moderate facial acne. J Clin Aesthet Derm 2009; 2(4): 40–4
17. Gold MH, Sensing W, Biron JA. Clinical efficacy of home-use blue light therapy for mild to moderate acne. J Cosmet Laser Ther 2011; 13: 308–14
prime-journal.com | May/June 2013 ❚
Figure 2 Blue light treatment for inflammatory acne vulgaris, (A) before and (B) after twice weekly treatments for 4 weeks
Conclusions Blue light therapy for inflammatory acne vulgaris is a true and tried method for improving the outcomes of those suffering from acne vulgaris. While some offices embrace this therapy and use it for many patients on a regular basis, others still have not come to realise how useful it can be. For many years, clinical trials have supported its usefulness and showed its safety and efficacy in helping patients.
Declaration of interest None Figure 2 © Dr Gold
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