Effective Intense Pulsed Light Protocol in the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Acne Vulgaris of the Chest and Back

BACKGROUND: Acne is defined as a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous units, mainly affecting the face of young adults, but the chest and back can be involved as well. Oral antibiotics, topical retinoids, azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and isotretinoin represent the most common treatment used for the treatment of acne, but several adverse effects and a lack of durable remission, with poor adherence by the patients, have been reported thus far. Lasers have been shown to be effective and safe to treat acne; intense pulsed light (IPL) demonstrates high efficacy rates, minimal discomfort, rapid recovery times, and excellent cosmetic and therapeutic outcomes. OBJECTIVE: In this prospective study, we assessed the efficacy, safety, and reproducibility of a novel IPL protocol as a monotherapy in the treatment of acne of the chest and back. METHODS: We included patients (N=50) aged 14 to 30 who presented with moderate papulopustular acne sited on the chest and back (Cook’s Acne Grading Scale method 4–6, Pillsbury Scale III–IV). We performed four IPL sessions at two-week intervals on each patient. RESULTS: An excellent outcome was achieved in 50 percent of the patients and a good outcome in the 35 percent of the patients. Patients experienced light erythema and mild burning as the most common side effects, which spontaneously resolved within 24 to 96 hours. CONCLUSION: Consistent with previous reports, our study demonstrated IPL to be a safe and effective treatment for severe cases of acne on the chest and back, providing excellent aesthetic and therapeutic results in 85 percent of treated patients.