Possibilities of IPL technology application in the treatment of patients with acne: review and personal clinical experience

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Abstract

High-energy methods for acne treatment, particularly intense pulsed light (IPL), are gaining increasing popularity in dermatology and esthetic medicine.

This review analyzes data on the use of IPL in acne therapy. A systematic search of scientific publications over the past 20 years was conducted, focusing on various IPL application strategies and their effects on the main pathogenic mechanisms of acne. The role of IPL in modulating the skin microbiome and immune response is noted. Evidence is presented confirming the effectiveness of IPL both as monotherapy and in combination with systemic and topical medications. The authors’ own clinical experience in using a combination treatment method for the papulopustular form of mild-to-moderate acne in 28 women aged 18 to 45 years, involving a fixed-dose combination drug (adapalene and benzoyl peroxide) along with phototherapy using broad-spectrum non-coherent light (wavelength range 400–1200 nm), demonstrated a significant reduction in the total dermatological symptom severity index by 82.8% and an improvement in the dermatology life quality index by 80.5%, indicating high efficacy and good tolerability of the therapy.

The conducted analytical research and clinical experience support the feasibility of combining IPL with systemic and topical therapies for acne treatment and underscore the need for further research aimed at optimizing acne therapy and developing standardized practical guidelines.

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About the authors

Ekaterina A. Arkatova

Rostov State Medical University; Center for Affordable Medicine

Author for correspondence.
Email: arcatova@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6966-4153
SPIN-code: 7478-5709
Russian Federation, 29 Nachitsevanskij aly, Rostov-on-Don, 344022; Rostov-on-Don

Lolita V. Melanich

Center for Affordable Medicine

Email: abralavalolita@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0001-1859-2302
SPIN-code: 4980-4329
Russian Federation, Rostov-on-Don

Olga A. Sidorenko

Rostov State Medical University

Email: ola_ps@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7387-2497
SPIN-code: 2209-0521

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Russian Federation, 29 Nachitsevanskij aly, Rostov-on-Don, 344022

Ivan A. Materikin

The First Sechenov Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)

Email: Materikin.ia@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0008-8948-0296
SPIN-code: 8710-2627
Russian Federation, Moscow

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2. Fig. 1. Patient V., 33 years old: a, condition before the start of therapy (1, 2); b, results of combination therapy 12 weeks after the start of treatment (3, 4); c, morphofunctional assessment before (5) and after (6) treatment: moderate sebum-regulating effect (sebum areas are highlighted in yellow) and decreased colonization of C. acnes in the sebaceous glands (proportional to the decrease in the intensity of porphyrin fluorescence in the form of pink fluorescent dots).

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3. Fig. 2. Patient T., 22 years old: a, condition before the start of therapy (1, 2); b, results of combination therapy 12 weeks after the start of treatment (3, 4); c, morphofunctional assessment before (5) and after (6) treatment: moderate sebum-regulating effect (sebum areas are highlighted in yellow) and decreased colonization of C. acnes in the sebaceous glands (proportional to the decrease in the intensity of porphyrin fluorescence in the form of pink fluorescent dots).

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