A randomized, controlled trial of intense pulsed light in combination with minocycline hydrochloride for the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris

Background It has been a long-term debate over the concomitant treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris using intense pulsed light (IPL) and minocycline due to the photosensitivity of minocycline. Objective We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficiency of IPL combined with minocycline in treating acne vulgaris in a randomized trial. Methods A total of 40 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned into two groups which were either given minocycline (100 mg per day) for 8 weeks with IPL treatments three times at weeks 0, 4, and 8, or the same dosage of minocycline only. The evaluations for inflammatory lesion count, Investigator Global Assessment of Acne (IGA), erythema, and purpura indexes were taken before treatment and at weeks 4, 8, and 16. Results There were significant improvements in inflammatory lesion count, IGA scores, and purpura index in both groups as compared with the baseline at week 16 (p < 0.02). The concomitant therapy, but not minocycline only, significantly improved the erythema index (p = 0.40) at the 16(th) week as compared with the baseline. The group with combined treatment showed significantly continuous improvements in inflammatory lesion counts (p < 0.04) and IGA scores (p <= 0.02) at weeks 4, 8, and 16 as compared with the group given minocycline only. No severe adverse effects were observed during the trial. Conclusion IPL in combination with minocycline shows a better clinical efficacy for the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris than minocycline alone, and it is safe.