A Novel Combined Light-Based Treatment of Acne Vulgaris With 1,450-nm Diode Laser and 450-nm Blue Light.

BACKGROUND: Nonablative 1,450-nm diode laser (DL) and visible blue light (BL) have been effectively used for acne with superior safety profiles. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate synergistic effects of sequential DL and BL application for acne. METHODS: A 20-week, randomized split-face study was conducted to compare clinical courses between 2 facial sides either receiving sequential application of DL and BL or BL alone in 24 patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris. Patients were scheduled to receive 3 consecutive sessions at 4-week intervals. Objective assessments, including revised Leeds grades, lesion counts, and sebum output measurements, and patients' subjective satisfaction were investigated. RESULTS: Both combination and BL sides demonstrated steady improvement of inflammatory acne lesions with 62.3% and 35.2% decreases at the 12-week follow-up visit compared with baseline respectively. For noninflammatory lesions and seborrhea, only combination regimen demonstrated improvement. Patients' subjective assessments paralleled objective findings. For safety profiles, no severe adverse effect was observed on both sides, and mild symptoms resolved spontaneously within a day. CONCLUSION: The combination regimen demonstrated synergistic efficacies for acne and seborrhea, with satisfactory safety profiles. Therefore, a few sessions of these light-based applications would be a viable option for acne treatments.

Clinical Evaluations of a Novel Thread Lifting Regimen Using Barbed Polyglyconate Suture for Facial Rejuvenation: Analysis Using a 3-Dimensional Imaging System.

BACKGROUND: Thread lifting with absorbable sutures has recently gained prominence for rejuvenating ptotic and sagging soft tissues in aging face. A barbed, delayed absorbable polyglyconate monofilament shows significantly high tensile loads with superior flexibility and elasticity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of novel thread lifting regimen with barbed polyglyconate suture for counteracting the descent and laxity of the aging face. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for 25 Korean patients with mild to moderate facial skin laxity receiving thread lifting procedures using barbed polyglyconate suture. Dermatologists' objective assessments using a 5-point Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), 3D imaging system, and subjective satisfaction were recorded at baseline and 4 months after treatments. RESULTS: In most patients (84%), GAIS scores were more than score 3 ("improved"), with 40% of score 4 ("much improved") and 24% of score 5 ("excellent") at the follow-up point. Subjective assessments paralleled these patterns. Three-dimensional analysis quantitatively showed volume migration of low face upward, clinically interpreted as facial lifting. No serious adverse effect was observed. CONCLUSION: This novel thread lifting procedure using barbed polyglyconate suture is a safe and effective method for tightening and lifting for aging face with mild to moderate face sagging.

Comparison of novel dual mode vs conventional single pass of a 1450-nm diode laser in the treatment of acne vulgaris for Korean patients: A 20-week prospective, randomized, split-face study.

BACKGROUND: Although a 1450-nm diode laser has been shown to be effective for acne, the conventional high-energy stamp-only regimen is often associated with pain and hyperpigmentation, especially for dark-skinned individuals. AIMS: To evaluate whether the novel dual regimen has clinical advantages for acne treatments compared with conventional regimen in Asian patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four Korean patients with facial acne were treated with a 1450-nm diode laser through a 20-week, randomized, split-face study. The patients were treated with three consecutive sessions at 4-week intervals. One half of the face received a dual regimen consisting of low-fluence stamping mode (5-6 J/cm2 ) for inflammatory acne lesions only, followed by 4-5 passes of moving mode for the full face. The other side received a single-pass treatment of conventional high-fluence stamp mode (14-15 J/cm2 ). Evaluations for acne, sebum secretion measurements, and safety profiles were performed. RESULTS: At the final 12-week follow-up evaluations, the dual-mode side demonstrated better improvements in both inflammatory and noninflammatory lesion counts, acne severity assessments, and reduction in sebum secretion compared with stamp-only side. Subjective satisfaction for the improvement for acne, seborrhea, and texture correlated well with objective assessments. In addition, degrees of pain and treatment-related side effects were remarkably decreased in the novel dual mode. CONCLUSION: This novel dual regimen of the 1450-nm laser demonstrated improved efficacies for acne and seborrhea with satisfactory safety profiles. Therefore, this regimen would be a viable option for acne treatments either as monotherapy or as combination therapy.

Clinical and Histological Evaluations of Enlarged Facial Skin Pores After Low Energy Level Treatments With Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser in Korean Patients.

BACKGROUND: Enlarged facial pores can be an early manifestation of skin aging and they are a common aesthetic concern for Asians. However, studies of improving the appearance of enlarged pores have been limited. OBJECTIVE: The authors aimed to study the application of CO2 fractional laser treatment in patients with enlarged facial pores. METHODS: A total of 32 patients with dilated facial pores completed 3 consecutive sessions of low energy level treatments with a fractional CO2 laser at 4-week intervals. Image analysis was performed to calculate the number of enlarged pores before each treatment session and 12 weeks after the final treatment. RESULTS: After application of laser treatments, there was a significant decrease in the number of enlarged pores. The mean number of enlarged pores was decreased by 28.8% after the second session and by 54.5% at post-treatment evaluation. Post-treatment side effects were mild and transitory. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated clear increases in the number of collagen fibers and the expression of transforming growth factor-ß1. CONCLUSION: The short-term results showed that treatment with low energy level CO2 fractional laser therapy could be a safe and effective option for patients with Fitzpatrick skin Types III and IV who are concerned with enlarged pores.

A case of morpheaform sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic multisystem disease with various cutaneous presentations, and it is characterized by the presence of non-caseating granulomas in the affected organs. The specific manifestations are papules, plaques, nodules, ulcers and scar. We report here on a variant of sarcoidosis on a 71-year-old woman who showed an indurated plaque on the forearm. Her lesion's appearance was clinically similar to that of a morphea and the appearance of the lesion was unlike the commonly observed manifestations of sarcoidosis.