American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting discussed how the advancements in laser technology had offered new treatment options for acne.

Emmy M Graber, President and Founder of The Dermatology Institute of Boston, said, "Before recent years, lasers were not an essential part of acne management due to a lack of efficiency." However, the opportunities for laser treatment for acne are expanding. 

Graber said, "Many new lasers and devices for acne may become a regular part of the treatment armamentarium. In ongoing and recent trials, 1,726 nm and 1,064 nm lasers have emerged as the most promising."

Among the two 1,726 nm lasers, one received FDA approval in April 2022 for treating mild, moderate and severe acne, and the other received FDA approval in November 2022 for mild to severe acne with a CE mark for moderate inflammatory acne. Both selectively damage sebaceous glands while keeping the epidermis intact, with the target chromophore being the sebum.

A trial for the 1,726 nm laser cleared in April demonstrated that of 104 patients treated with the laser, 47% gained a 2-point or greater improvement on the Investigators Global Assessment (IGA) scale from baseline. The laser cleared in November demonstrated similar results, with all 19 patients attaining a 77% inflammatory lesion count decline by Week 12 when treated four times in a month-apart gap. Additionally, 88% gained a 50% or more reduction at 52 weeks.

Furthermore, the 650 µsecond 1,064 nm laser has also received FDA clearance for treating mild to moderate inflammatory acne and acts by decreasing inflammation and damaging the sebaceous gland via bulk heating with a coagulation of the vessels.

In a double-blind, randomized study of 20 subjects, the superiority of the laser compared with a sham was confirmed, with 42% vs. 26% showing a decrease in the number of inflammatory lesions, respectively.

Graber, at last, concluded, "Although lasers might not necessarily replace some of the traditional topical medications or oral medications in the future, they will definitely become excellent options for patients with acne." 

Source: Lasers emerge as excellent options’ for treating acne. March 19, 2023. Available from: https://www.healio.com/news/dermatology/20230319/lasers-emerge-as-excellent-options-for-acne-treatment