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. 1997;194(3):256-60.
doi: 10.1159/000246114.

Phototherapy of acne vulgaris with visible light

V Sigurdsson  1 , A C Knulst, H van Weelden
Affiliations

Phototherapy of acne vulgaris with visible light

V Sigurdsson et al. Dermatology. 1997.

Abstract

Background: Sun exposure has a beneficial effect on acne vulgaris, but it is not clear which wavelengths contribute to the favourable effect.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of visible light on acne vulgaris and define the most effective wavelengths.

Methods: Thirty patients (15 men and 15 women) with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, involving the face and/or the back and/or the chest, were treated with three different light sources. They were treated 3 times a week, for a total of 7 weeks, each field for 20 min per session.

Results: All the light sources using 'full spectrum', green and violet improved the acne, leading to 14% (p > 0.10), 22% (p < 0.05) and 30% (p < 0.02) improvement, respectively. No statistically significant differences between the three different light sources were found, although there was a tendency that violet light was better than the other light qualities. No side-effects were observed.

Conclusion: Visible light is a moderately effective alternative for treatment of acne vulgaris.

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