The following is a summary of “Novel 1726 nm laser demonstrates durable therapeutic outcomes and tolerability for moderate-to-severe acne across skin types,” published in the OCTOBER 2023 issue of Dermatology by Alexiades, et al.

Acne is a common skin condition, and its management traditionally involves topical therapies, oral antibiotics, hormonal treatments, or oral isotretinoin. These methods may require long-term compliance and can lead to notable side effects. Laser treatments for acne have been explored, but many still need to provide lasting results. For a study, researchers sought to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of a novel 1726 nm laser treatment for moderate-to-severe acne spanning various skin types.

It was a prospective, open-label, single-arm study involving 104 individuals with moderate-to-severe facial acne, covering a range of skin types from Fitzpatrick Skin Types II to VI. The participants received three laser treatments spaced at intervals of 3 weeks (with a slight adjustment of -1 or +2 weeks).

Following the final treatment, a more than 50% reduction in active inflammatory acne lesions was observed in 32.6% of participants after 4 weeks. The percentage increased to 79.8% at 12 weeks and 87.3% at 26 weeks. The number of participants with clear or nearly clear skin grew from 0% at the beginning of the study to 9%, 36.0%, and 41.8% at 4, 12, and 26 weeks, respectively. Importantly, no serious adverse events were related to the device or the treatment protocol. The laser treatments were well-tolerated and did not require the use of anesthesia. The outcomes and patient comfort levels were consistent across all skin types.

The study’s findings indicated that the novel 1726 nm laser is well-tolerated and provides enduring improvements for moderate-to-severe acne across a spectrum of skin types.

Source: jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(23)01075-7/fulltext