TLDR Near-infrared laser therapy with Indocyanine Green dye improves acne by reducing inflammation without side effects.
The study from 2004 investigated the effectiveness of near-infrared (NIR) diode laser phototherapy combined with Indocyanine Green (ICG) dye for treating acne vulgaris. A total of 28 volunteers with facial or back acne participated. The treatment involved staining the skin with ICG and irradiating it with NIR laser light at different intensities and durations. Control groups included untreated skin, only stained, and only irradiated areas. Results from 1-2 months post-treatment showed that multiple treatments with ICG and NIR light reduced inflammation and improved skin condition without side effects. High power densities could destroy inflamed acne elements in 0.5 seconds. The study concluded that ICG selectively stains hair follicles and sebaceous glands, suggesting new soft and thermal treatment methods for acne that could be clinically applied.
108 citations,
December 2003 in “Lasers in surgery and medicine” ICG-enhanced NIR laser therapy may be a promising acne treatment with improvement and no side effects.
69 citations,
January 2002 in “Journal of biomedical optics” Dyes can penetrate human skin and hair follicles up to 1.2 mm deep and the sebaceous gland can store dye; Indocyanine Green lotion was made for safe dyeing and monitoring.
5 citations,
May 2001 in “Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE” The DWLSM provides detailed imaging of hair shafts and follicles with high accuracy.
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92 citations,
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108 citations,
December 2003 in “Lasers in surgery and medicine” ICG-enhanced NIR laser therapy may be a promising acne treatment with improvement and no side effects.
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April 2018 in “Lasers in Surgery and Medicine” New treatments and technologies in laser medicine show promise for improving skin conditions, fat reduction, cancer treatment, wound healing, and hair restoration.
17 citations,
December 2015 in “International Journal of Cosmetic Science” Visible light can improve skin disorders and hair loss, but more research is needed to understand long-term effects.
69 citations,
January 2002 in “Journal of biomedical optics” Dyes can penetrate human skin and hair follicles up to 1.2 mm deep and the sebaceous gland can store dye; Indocyanine Green lotion was made for safe dyeing and monitoring.
9 citations,
November 2000 in “Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE” Dyeing hair can help target and destroy hair follicles selectively.
