A comparative split-face study of photodynamic therapy with indocyanine green and indole-3-acetic acid for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Recently, photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a variety of light sources and photosensitizers has been used for the treatment of acne vulgaris. PDT with aminolaevulinic or methylaminolaevulinic acid has also been used in clinical trials as a treatment for acne, but adverse effects such as pain, erythema and pustular eruption are common. Indocyanine green (ICG) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), newer photosensitizers, are known to have minimal adverse effects.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of PDT using ICG and PDT using IAA in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris.

METHODS: In this prospective, single-blind, clinical trial, 34 patients with mild to moderate acne were treated with IAA with green light (520 nm) on half of the face and with ICG with near-infrared radiation (805 nm) on the other half. The procedure was carried out five times at 1-week intervals.

RESULTS: With regard to acne lesions (inflammatory and noninflammatory) and sebum secretion, there were statistically significant reductions at each time point compared with the baseline values (P < 0·05). However, there were no statistically significant differences between the two treatment types (P > 0·05). Both ICG-PDT and IAA-PDT showed better responses for inflammatory lesions than for noninflammatory lesions (P < 0·05). Subjective satisfaction score were statistically significant at 4 and 5 weeks of treatment as well as at 1, 2 and 3 months follow-up (P < 0·05).

CONCLUSIONS: Both PDT with ICG and PDT with IAA are safe and effective for the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris.