Light Therapy for Acne

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Laser Therapy by Jan Tunér 4.1.1 Allergy, acne systica gravis and eczema

Laser therapy will reduce the symptoms of local allergic reactions through its anti-inflammatory and pain relieving effect. This has been demonstrated by Sakihama [652]. The effect of HeNe laser on irritant and allergic contact dermatitis of the mouse ear and on histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells was studied. Irradiation (12.2 J/cm²) was performed at various intervals before and after the challenge of an irritated contact dermatitis (ICD) or allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). The laser did not influence the ICD but the allergic response was decelerated. The spontaneous histamine release was inhibited by laser irradiation, while substance P and compound 48/80induced histamine release were not inhibited.

Literature:

Simunovic [958] used a combination of GaAlAs point irradiation and HeNe scanning to treat acne and acne scars in a two centre study on 80 patients. In the first therapy group, low level laser therapy was used as monotherapy, and in the second it was used in combination with topical application of tetracycline. Both groups included acute as well as chronic cases. Monotherapy demonstrated relief of all local clinical symptoms. Used in combination with tetracycline, the healing process was accelerated and there was a decrease in tetracycline side effects and reduced occurrence of relapses. In all patients treated with laser therapy, scars were significantly prevented or reduced.

Ailioaie [981] and Tulebaev [555] report on positive effects on allergic rhinitis using laser therapy.

Ailioaie [1204] reports promising result in the laser treatment of children's allergic purpura. This condition, of unknown aetiology, is characterised, by migratory polyarthralgia or polyarthritis, abdominal pain, vasculitis of the small vessels and in the kidney. Conventional therapy consists of NSAIDs to control subjective problems, antibiotics when indicated and corticosteroids in acute phases. The prognosis for recovery is generally good, though symptoms fequently (25-50%) return over a period of several months. In the Ailioaie study, 31 children aged 2-16 years were divided into two group (15/16) after clinical and laboratory tests. One group was given conventional therapy, whereas the other was treated with a laser scanner of 670 (50 mW) and 830 (300 mW) nm in combination, 4-10 J/cm². Scanning was performed daily for 21 days. The clinical outcome was good in both groups but in the laser group the improvement was spectacular during the first 10 days and all final scores measured were better in the laser group. Hematuria, indicating renal, involvement, was noted in 18.75% of the non-laser treated children.

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