Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cryotherapy as a potential treatment of inflammatory acne.
Material and Method: Controlled clinical study conducted from November 2016 to April 2017, in which subjects with active facial inflammatory acne were treated, using a non-invasive controlled cooling device (CoolSculpting system) for a maximum period of 5 minutes at - 15 ° C on one side of the face, the other side was the control. Two treatments were carried out with an interval of four weeks. Adverse events were monitored to assess safety. The treated area was evaluated using digital photography and VISIA before and at weeks 1, 4, 8 and 12 after the first treatment. The satisfaction of patients and researchers was also assessed through questionnaires.
Results: Ten patients were included in whom there was a significant incremental reduction in inflammatory acne lesions at one week and one month after the first treatment, and even greater improvement one month after the second treatment. Although the number of lesions increased at the third month follow-up visit, all subjects exhibited fewer inflammatory lesions compared to onset. No significant adverse events were observed.
Conclusion: The significant reduction observed suggests that cryotherapy should be studied further and considered non-invasive alternative treatment of inflammatory acne.