Traditional medical treatments for
acne vulgaris include a variety of topical and oral medications. The combination of poor compliance, lack of durable remission, and potential side effects are common drawbacks to these treatments. The use of
lasers and light devices has increased dramatically in recent years due to the overall ease of treatment, predictable clinical efficacy, and minimal adverse effects. A variety of light and
laser devices has been used for the treatment of
acne, including the
potassium titanyl phosphate (
KTP) laser, the 585- and 595-nm
pulsed dye lasers, the 1450-nm
diode laser, radiofrequency devices, intense pulsed light sources, low-intensity light treatment, and
photodynamic therapy using 5-aminolevulinic
acid and
indocyanine green. These devices are thought to target underlying pathogenic factors such as Propionibacterium acnes colonization, increased sebaceous gland activity, and the cutaneous inflammatory response.
Lasers in particular also have a central role in the management of
acne scarring, which tends to be refractory to medical
therapies. Fractional photothermolysis, the 1450-nm
diode laser, and
pulsed dye lasers have been used in the nonablative treatment of
acne scars with significant success. In this article, we review the current status of light- and
laser-based treatment of
acne and related conditions and briefly review the use of
lasers for the treatment of
acne scarring.