Topical Brimonidine Tartrate 0.33% Gel versus 577-nm Pro-yellow Laser for the Treatment of Post-acne Erythema: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND

Post acne erythema (PAE) is a common sequela of inflammatory acne vulgaris resulting from the dilatation of microcapillaries within the papillary dermis, thinning of the epidermis, and release of inflammatory cytokines.

OBJECTIVE

The authors sought to compare the safety and efficacy of topical Brimonidine tartrate 0.33% gel versus A 577-nm pro-yellow laser for treatment of post acne erythema.

METHODS

This was a comparative study, randomized clinical trials conducted on 60 adult patients with PAE. Patients were assigned into two groups: Group I included 30 patients who received brimonidine tartrate 0.33% gel once daily for three months, and Group II included 30 patients who received Pro-yellow laser with 577-nm therapy, for four sessions at three weeks intervals. Evaluation of erythema was done by Clinician's Erythema Assessment (CEA) and Patient's Self-Assessment (PSA) scales at baseline and at the end of the therapy. The dermoscopic images were analyzed for percent area of erythema and the optical density (OD) using ImageJ® freeware.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients (73.3%) were females and eight patients (26.7%) were males in Group I. In Group II, 20 patients (66.7%) were females and 10 patients (33.3%) were males. The mean±SD age of the studied groups was 22.07 years ±2.64 ranging from 20 to 24 years in Group I versus 20.93 years ±2.88 ranging from 19 to 23 years in Group II. Clinical improvement is distributed as follows among Group I; 56.7 percent are excellent, 56.7 percent good, 26.7 percent poor, and 10 percent fair for Group II; 33.3 percent good, 6.7 percent poor, and 60 percent excellent. There was no statistically significant difference between studied groups as regard Clinician's Erythema Assessment (CEA), Patient's Self-Assessment (PSA) mean area percentage and the optical density (OD) before treatment, while a statistically significant difference between studied groups after treatment was observed (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Topical brimonidine tartrate 0.33% gel and 577-nm pro yellow laser were effective and well tolerated therapeutic options for treatment of Post acne erythema (PAE), however the 577-nm Pro yellow laser was superior to brimonidine tartrate 0.33% gel.