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Isotretinoin plus 420 nm intense pulsed light versus isotretinoin alone for the treatment of acne vulgaris: a randomized, controlled study of efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction in Chinese subjects

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Abstract

Either isotretinoin or intense pulsed light (IPL) proved to be effective to alleviate acne lesions, but the combined treatment has rarely been reported. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction of isotretinoin and 420 nm IPL combined treatment. Forty-seven patients with facial acne with Global Evaluation Acne (GEA) graded 2–4 were randomized into study group and control group. The patients in the control group received oral isotretinoin for 8 weeks. The patients in the study group were treated with oral isotretinoin for 8 weeks, together with a biweekly 420 nm IPL treatment for 4 weeks. Topical agents included adapalene and fusidic acid. Efficacy was evaluated using digital photographies taken at baseline and week 12 by an independent dermatologist, including GEA grade, lesion count, lesion reduction percentage, and effective rate. All patients completed a questionnaire about dermatology life quality index (DLQI) and satisfaction visual analog scale (VAS) on week 12, and were followed up for another 2 months. Adverse events were recorded. The patients in the study group experienced significant reduction in GEA grade, total lesions, and inflammatory lesions on week 12, compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The patients in the study group reported lower DLQI and higher VAS satisfaction (p < 0.05) and experienced lower incidence of relapse (p < 0.05). No severe adverse event was identified in both groups. Compared with isotretinoin alone, isotretinoin and 420 nm IPL combined treatment proved to be more effective within limited treatment duration. It was well-tolerated and the patients’ satisfaction was high.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Yiming Li

  2. Department of Dermatology and Venerology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, 278 Baoguang Ave, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Yiming Li, Jiangting Zhu, Yunjie Zhang, Xiarong Liu & Junru Ye

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  1. Yiming Li
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  2. Jiangting Zhu
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  3. Yunjie Zhang
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  4. Xiarong Liu
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  5. Junru Ye
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by authors 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The first draft of the manuscript was written by author 1 and all authors commented on the previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Junru Ye.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The study was reviewed and approved by the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College ethical committee. The study protocol followed the guidelines of the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. All patients signed informed consent before participating in the study.

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Informed consent was obtained from all the participants included in the study.

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The authors affirm that human research participants provided informed consent for publication of the images in Figs. 1a, b and 2.

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Li, Y., Zhu, J., Zhang, Y. et al. Isotretinoin plus 420 nm intense pulsed light versus isotretinoin alone for the treatment of acne vulgaris: a randomized, controlled study of efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction in Chinese subjects. Lasers Med Sci 36, 657–665 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-020-03113-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-020-03113-z

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