Adjunctive 308-nm Excimer Light With Oral Azithromycin for Inflammatory Acne

Efficacy and Tolerability of Adjunctive 308-nm Excimer Light During Oral Azithromycin Therapy for Inflammatory Acne Vulgaris: A Randomized, Evaluator-Blinded, Split-Face Controlled Trial

This randomized, evaluator-blinded, split-face study evaluated whether adjunctive lesion-directed 308-nm excimer light improves inflammatory acne outcomes during oral azithromycin therapy. All participants received oral azithromycin 500 mg three times weekly for 8 weeks. One randomly allocated hemiface additionally received 308-nm excimer light twice weekly for 8 weeks, while the contralateral hemiface served as the azithromycin-only control. Papule and pustule counts and hemiface Investigator's Global Assessment were assessed through Week 8. Investigator's Global Assessment was reassessed at Week 16 after an 8-week treatment-free follow-up. We hypothesized that the excimer-treated hemiface would demonstrate greater reduction in total inflammatory-lesion count by Week 8.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female participants.
• age 15-35 years.
• Bilateral inflammatory acne involving both hemifaces, with clinically comparable baseline inflammatory involvement as assessed before randomization.
• No topical or systemic acne treatment during the preceding 8 weeks.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy.
• Photosensitivity disorders.
• Macrolide hypersensitivity.
• Concurrent isotretinoin use or isotretinoin use during the preceding 8 weeks.