Novel device-based acne treatments: comparison of a 1,450-nm diode laser and micro-needling radiofrequency on mild to moderate acne vulgaris and seborrhea in Korean patients through a 20-week prospective, randomized, split-face study

Abstract

Background

While device-based acne treatments are widely applied for patients not tolerating conventional medications, related controlled studies have been still limited. Recently, non-ablative 1,450-nm diode laser (DL) and fractional micro-needling radiofrequency (FMR) have been effectively used for acne, in addition to well-recognized dermal remodeling effects.

Objective

To compare the clinical course for acne treatment between DL and FMR.

Methods

Twenty five Korean patients with mild to moderate facial acne completed treatments with DL and FMR through a 20-week, randomized split-face study. One randomly assigned half side of each patient's face received DL and the other side by FMR. Treatments were scheduled to receive three consecutive sessions at 4-week intervals. Objective assessments including revised Leeds grades, lesion counts, sebum output measurements, and patients' subjective satisfaction were investigated.

Results

Both DL and FMR demonstrated steady improvement of acne and seborrhea during treatment sessions. While results between two devices were similar during treatment sessions, FMR was superior to DL in the 12-week follow up. Patients' subjective assessments for seborrhea improvement were similar between two devices, while those for acne, skin texture, and acne scars were more satisfactory for FMR. For safety proflie, no significant difference was observed between two regimens, while mild post inflammatory hyperpigmentation was observed only in DL side.

Conclusion

Both DL and FMR demonstrated efficacies for acne and seborrhea, with reasonable safety proflie. FMR was more effective than DL for the long-term maintenance, and subjective assessments for texture and scar improvements. Therefore, a few sessions of these devices would be a viable option for acne treatments.

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