The effect of 650 nm red light phototherapy on acne vulgaris

Background: With the emergence of problems with conventional acne vulgaris treatments, the demand for safe and effective treatment has been increasing. Recently, many studies have shown that phototherapy can be an alternative treatment for acne. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of red light phototherapy for mild to moderate acne vulgaris. Methods: Thirty-nine patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris were recruited. The patients were instructed to use an ordinary light emitting diode (LED)-attached device on left facial acne and a red light-emitting device on right facial acne for 16 minutes, twice a day, for 6 weeks. Acne was assessed at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, and 6. Results: A significant reduction of Burton scale and lesion count was observed on the red light emitting side, compared with the LED-emitting side. Improvement of satisfaction of patients and efficacy assessment on the red light emitting side were 82.05% and 84.62%, respectively, compared with 41.03% and 38.46%, respectively, on the LED emitting side. One patient complained of cheilitis, but it was temporary. Conclusion: This study shows that 650 nm red light therapy can be an effective and safe treatment for mild to moderate acne vulgaris