Study

Intervention

Results

Reference

Randomized open-label trial for mild to moderate acne (n=107)

Blue light (415 nm), Mixed blue and red light (415 and 660 nm), 5% BPO, cool white light; Daily treatments for 12 weeks

Improvement in inflammatory lesions with blue-red light (76%) which was statistically superior to blue light and BPO (p<0.02) at 8 weeks. 58% improvement in comedones with blue-red light (p=ns).

Papageorgiu, et al. ⁶⁵⁵⁶

Uncontrolled open-label trial for skin phototypes III and IV and moderate to severe acne in Japanese patients (n=25)

IPL at 400-700 nm and 870-1200 nm; 5 total treatments at 1 week intervals

36.6% (p<0.05) and 12.9% (p<0.01) reduction of non-inflammatory lesions after 1 and 5 treatments. 43.0% (p<0.05) and 11.7% (p<0.01) reduction of inflammatory lesions after 1 and 5 treatments.

Kawana, et al.⁶⁷⁵⁸

Randomized, single-blind, split-face trial for skin phototypes IV or V and moderate acne in Chinese patients (n=30)

IPL at 530 to 750 nm, IPL + MAL, no treatment; 4 total treatments at 3 week intervals

23% reduction of inflammatory lesions with IPL  (p=0.82) and 65% reduction with PDT (p=0.06) at 12 weeks post final treatment. 44% reduction of non-inflammatory lesions with IPL (p=0.01) and 38% reduction with PDT (p=0.05) at 12 weeks post final treatment.

Yeung, et al.⁶⁸⁵⁹

Randomized open-label trial for moderate to severe acne (n=45)

PDL, IPL, blue-red LED; continued treatments until ≥ 90% clearance of lesions achieved

90% clearance achieved after an average of 4.1 sessions with PDT, 6 sessions with IPL, and 10 sessions with LED

Sami, et al.⁶⁹⁶⁰

Randomized, split-face trial for mild to moderate inflammatory acne (n=26)

KTP 523 nm laser with continuous contact cooling, no treatment; 2 treatments a week for 2 weeks

34.9% (p=0.011) and 20.7% (p=0.25) reduction in Michaelsson acne severity score at 1 and 4 weeks post-final treatment

Baugh, et al.⁷⁰⁶¹

Randomized, double-blind trial for mild to moderate acne (n=41)

PDL 585 nm, sham treatment; 1 treatment

53% reduction in total lesion counts with PDL (p=0.023) and 49% reduction in inflammatory lesions (p=0.024) at 12 weeks post-treatment

Seaton, et al.⁷¹⁶²

Randomized, split-face, single-blind trial for facial acne (n=40)

PDL 585 nm, no treatment; 1 treatment or 2 treatments at a 2 week interval

No significant changes in mean papule counts (p=0.08), mean pustule counts (p=0.12), or mean comedone counts (p=0.63) at 12 weeks post-treatment. Leeds score at 12 weeks post-treatment were 3.9 for treated and 3.8 for untreated side (p > 0.99)

Orringer, et al.⁷²⁶³

Randomized, single-blind trial for mild to moderate inflammatory acne (n=80)

1% C/5% BPO, 1% C/5% BPO + PDL 585nm; Daily topical treatment, 2 laser treatments at a 2 week interval

9.2% reduction in total lesion counts with C/BPO and 9.0% reduction with C/BPO plus PDL at 4 weeks post-treatment (p=ns). 36.3% reduction in inflammatory lesions with C/BPO and 36.9% reduction with C/BPO plus laser at 4 weeks post-treatment (p=ns).

Karsai, et al.⁷³⁶⁴