Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mili-Fire Needle, and Light-Emitting Diode Phototherapy for Cystic Acne and Post-Acne Sequelae.
Yaping Zhong, Hua Xia, Yuejun Zou et al.
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In 30 seconds
This single-center, parallel-group randomized clinical study compared an integrated traditional Chinese medicine regimen, mili-fire needle therapy, and red-blue LED phototherapy with isotretinoin plus the same phototherapy in 60 patients with moderate-to-severe cystic acne. Both groups also used topical adapalene and received the same skin-care and lifestyle guidance. Both regimens improved acne severity, lesion counts, and acne-related disability; between-group outcomes favored the integrated regimen after three and six treatment courses. Cure or marked improvement occurred in 76.67% of the integrated-regimen group versus 46.67% of controls. Selected-responder follow-up suggested better sequelae scores, but was exploratory.
Key findings
- Cure-plus-marked-response proportions were 76.67% with the integrated regimen and 46.67% with control treatment.
- Both groups improved Global Acne Grading System scores, lesion counts, and Acne Disability Index scores; between-group values favored the integrated regimen after three and six courses.
- Adverse-event rates did not differ significantly between groups.
- Among selected patients who achieved cure or marked improvement, the integrated-regimen group had lower acne scar, Vancouver Scar Scale, and imaging-based erythema scores during months 1-3.
Why it matters
The trial provides comparative short-term evidence for an integrated approach in moderate-to-severe cystic acne, including outcomes related to acne burden and disability. Its findings may inform further evaluation of combined traditional medicine and procedural therapies, while the selected-responder follow-up offers only preliminary evidence about post-acne sequelae.
What to keep in mind
The study was single-center. Follow-up of post-acne sequelae included only patients with cure or marked improvement and did not preserve the randomized comparison, limiting interpretation of those outcomes.