Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy, 2% Salicylic Acid, and Their Combination for Moderate Acne

Liping Li,1 Yan Huang,1 Jindong Lai,1 Xinyu Lin2 1Sui Ning First People’s Hospital in Sichuan Province, Suining, Sichuan, 629000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Dermatology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China...

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Main Authors: Li L, Huang Y, Lai J, Lin X
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-07-01
Series:Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/effectiveness-of-photodynamic-therapy-2-salicylic-acid-and-their-combi-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CCID
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author Li L
Huang Y
Lai J
Lin X
author_facet Li L
Huang Y
Lai J
Lin X
author_sort Li L
collection DOAJ
description Liping Li,1 Yan Huang,1 Jindong Lai,1 Xinyu Lin2 1Sui Ning First People’s Hospital in Sichuan Province, Suining, Sichuan, 629000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Dermatology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xinyu Lin, Email linxinyu8989@163.comObjective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy combined with 2% salicylic acid for treating moderate acne.Methods: This retrospective study included outpatients with moderate acne who consulted the Department of Dermatology at Suining First People’s Hospital in Sichuan Province between April 2019 and December 2019. The patients were grouped into the photodynamic group, the salicylic acid group, and the combination therapy group, according to whether they received aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy, a 2% supramolecular salicylic acid topical masque applied once daily for 10 minutes and then washed off for four consecutive weeks, 2% salicylic acid therapy, or both treatments combined. The overall effective rate was calculated as the percentage of patients with a 60% or greater reduction in skin lesions. Adverse reactions were also collected.Results: A total of 66 patients were included, with 22 patients in each group. The combination therapy group had an overall effective rate of 72.73%, which was higher compared to the photodynamic group at 40.91% and the salicylic acid group at 22.73% (5 cases, P < 0.003). The skin lesions decreased in the photodynamic group, salicylic acid group, and combination therapy group by 11.72± 4.80%, 8.62± 3.16%, and 15.12± 7.61% (P=0.01) at week one; 26.26± 5.52%, 24.19± 5.88%, and 33.11± 8.90% (P=0.01) at week two; 42.63± 7.25%, 39.21± 9.91%, and 47.31± 9.15% (P=0.01) at week three; and 58.84± 9.45%, 52.35± 8.75%, and 65.97± 7.20% (P=0.01) at week four. Some patients experienced mild discomfort (redness, itching, pain), but no severe adverse reactions were reported.Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy combined with 2% salicylic acid therapy reduced the number of skin lesions in patients with moderate acne more than either treatment alone. The combination therapy may be tolerable with no severe adverse reactions.Keywords: photochemotherapy, salicylic acid, acne vulgaris, treatment outcome, skin care, adverse effects
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spelling doaj-art-235f174a2d134e7c8dd663c07fa2d9fb2025-08-20T03:56:49ZengDove Medical PressClinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology1178-70152025-07-01Volume 18Issue 117831790105167Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy, 2% Salicylic Acid, and Their Combination for Moderate AcneLi L0Huang Y1Lai JLin X2DermatologyDepartment of DermatologyDermatology DepartmentLiping Li,1 Yan Huang,1 Jindong Lai,1 Xinyu Lin2 1Sui Ning First People’s Hospital in Sichuan Province, Suining, Sichuan, 629000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Dermatology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xinyu Lin, Email linxinyu8989@163.comObjective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy combined with 2% salicylic acid for treating moderate acne.Methods: This retrospective study included outpatients with moderate acne who consulted the Department of Dermatology at Suining First People’s Hospital in Sichuan Province between April 2019 and December 2019. The patients were grouped into the photodynamic group, the salicylic acid group, and the combination therapy group, according to whether they received aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy, a 2% supramolecular salicylic acid topical masque applied once daily for 10 minutes and then washed off for four consecutive weeks, 2% salicylic acid therapy, or both treatments combined. The overall effective rate was calculated as the percentage of patients with a 60% or greater reduction in skin lesions. Adverse reactions were also collected.Results: A total of 66 patients were included, with 22 patients in each group. The combination therapy group had an overall effective rate of 72.73%, which was higher compared to the photodynamic group at 40.91% and the salicylic acid group at 22.73% (5 cases, P < 0.003). The skin lesions decreased in the photodynamic group, salicylic acid group, and combination therapy group by 11.72± 4.80%, 8.62± 3.16%, and 15.12± 7.61% (P=0.01) at week one; 26.26± 5.52%, 24.19± 5.88%, and 33.11± 8.90% (P=0.01) at week two; 42.63± 7.25%, 39.21± 9.91%, and 47.31± 9.15% (P=0.01) at week three; and 58.84± 9.45%, 52.35± 8.75%, and 65.97± 7.20% (P=0.01) at week four. Some patients experienced mild discomfort (redness, itching, pain), but no severe adverse reactions were reported.Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy combined with 2% salicylic acid therapy reduced the number of skin lesions in patients with moderate acne more than either treatment alone. The combination therapy may be tolerable with no severe adverse reactions.Keywords: photochemotherapy, salicylic acid, acne vulgaris, treatment outcome, skin care, adverse effectshttps://www.dovepress.com/effectiveness-of-photodynamic-therapy-2-salicylic-acid-and-their-combi-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CCIDPhotochemotherapySalicylic acidAcne VulgarisTreatment OutcomeSkin CareAdverse Effects
spellingShingle Li L
Huang Y
Lai J
Lin X
Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy, 2% Salicylic Acid, and Their Combination for Moderate Acne
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology
Photochemotherapy
Salicylic acid
Acne Vulgaris
Treatment Outcome
Skin Care
Adverse Effects
title Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy, 2% Salicylic Acid, and Their Combination for Moderate Acne
title_full Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy, 2% Salicylic Acid, and Their Combination for Moderate Acne
title_fullStr Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy, 2% Salicylic Acid, and Their Combination for Moderate Acne
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy, 2% Salicylic Acid, and Their Combination for Moderate Acne
title_short Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy, 2% Salicylic Acid, and Their Combination for Moderate Acne
title_sort effectiveness of photodynamic therapy 2 salicylic acid and their combination for moderate acne
topic Photochemotherapy
Salicylic acid
Acne Vulgaris
Treatment Outcome
Skin Care
Adverse Effects
url https://www.dovepress.com/effectiveness-of-photodynamic-therapy-2-salicylic-acid-and-their-combi-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CCID
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