The results of pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatment of acne vulgaris published so far are
controversial: Whereas Seaton et al. described a marked improvement of mild-to-moderate acne
after low-fluence pulsed-dye laser therapy, Orringer et al. were unable to replicate said
results in a similar, albeit not identical, study design. More recently published studies
failed to resolve the controversy, varying in terms of treatment procedure(s) as well as
results.
While published results are certainly promising enough to be followed up by independent
research, they are insufficient to justify the abdication of methods with proven efficacy.
Considering patient treatment ethics and the short 'window of opportunity' for scar
prevention when active inflammatory lesions are present, the investigators planned the
adjuvant application of the PDL in the present study, providing all patients with the well
established and evidentially effective modality of a fixed-combination clindamycin 1%-benzoyl
peroxide 5% hydrating gel (C/BPO). The goal of the study was the assessment of the efficacy
and safety of a low-fluence PDL treatment in addition to C/BPO in patients with facial
inflammatory acne.