Efficacy of cooling-vacuum assisted 1540 nm erbium-doped glass laser (Er:Glass) in mild-to-moderate acne

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acne is a common skin disease that affects millions of people around the world. There are several options for acne treatment: the application of local anti-acne agents often has limited effectiveness, and systemic treatment carries the risk of significant side effects. Sources of visible, infrared and laser radiation have become common physical methods of treating acne.
 AIMS: to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of an erbium laser on glass (1540 nm) with integrated cooling and vacuum amplification for the treatment of mild-to-moderate acne
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: We observed twelve patients (seven men and five women) from 17 to 27 years old (average age 191.6) with Fitzpatrick skin type II to IV. Acne severity was assessed using the Investigators Assessment Scale (IGA). 5 patients had mild acne (IGA 2) and 7 had moderate acne (IGA 3). Patients were treated with an erbium laser on glass using the mid-infrared region of the spectrum, with a wavelength of 1540 nm (Harmony XL, Alma Lasers Ltd.), 4 to 6 procedures were performed every 2 weeks. The number of sessions was determined by clinical improvement.
 RESULTS: All 12 patients completed treatment (from four to six procedures, mean value 4.60.4) and were observed 1 and 3 months after the last session. The improvement in the appearance of the skin occurred gradually. Clear (IGA 0) or almost clear (IGA 1) skin were achieved in all patients. The subjective assessment of patient satisfaction ranged from satisfied (four patients) to very satisfied (eight patients) during the last visit. Side effects were mild and included mild erythema and edema in all patients, their severity and the percentage of patients suffering from them decreased during treatment. No edema was observed during follow-up visits after 1 and 3 months.
 CONCLUSIONS: The study proves the effectiveness and safety of the cooling-vacuum assisted 1540 nm erbium-doped glass laser (Er:Glass) in mild-to-moderate acne. Further studies with a larger number of participants and a longer follow-up period are needed to establish long-term efficacy.