Use of intense pulse light for acne vulgaris in Indian skin – a case series

Abstract

Background  Intense pulse light (IPL) has become extremely popular in Indian cosmetology circles. Yet, literature is silent on its effect in heavily melanized skin.

Objective  A descriptive study to gauge the effect of IPL on acne vulgaris in Indian patients done in a tertiary care center in south India.

Materials and methods  Patients with moderate to severe acne vulgaris were given a maximum of five sittings of IPL treatment. Lesion counts were performed and photographs compared before and after treatment.

Results  IPL was offered to 10 patients with acne vulgaris. Two patients dropped out, seven patients had a good response after a mean of 3.4 sittings; 87.5% patients expressed satisfaction with the procedure. No adverse effects were noted.

Conclusion  IPL serves a useful role in the treatment of acne vulgaris and could reduce treatment costs and pill burden. There is no increased risk of side effects with IPL on Indian skin with standard care.