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Research Article: The efficacy of red and blue light-emitting diode phototherapy combined with oral minocycline for acne conglobata: a retrospective cohort study

Date Published: 2026-01-12

Abstract:
Acne conglobata (AC) is a severe inflammatory skin condition with limited therapeutic options that can provide rapid and sustained remission. This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of a combination therapy of twice-weekly red-blue light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy with a shortened 4-week course of oral minocycline, compared to a conventional polypharmacy regimen for AC. We analyzed clinical data from 28 outpatients diagnosed with AC. The study group ( n =?15) received LED phototherapy (640?nm red and 460?nm blue light) and oral minocycline (100?mg/day for 4?weeks). The control group ( n =?13) was treated with a heterogeneous conventional regimen, including oral isotretinoin and/or extended minocycline (8?weeks) plus topical agents. Efficacy outcomes, including Symptom Score Reduction Index (SSRI), Global Acne Grading System (GAGS), and Pruritus Visual Analog Scale (P-VAS), were assessed by blinded dermatologists at baseline and over 8?weeks. Safety and tolerability were also evaluated. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. The LED-minocycline combination resulted in significantly superior and more rapid clinical improvement. At week 8, 100% of patients in the study group achieved cure (SSRI ?90%), versus 0% in the control group ( p <?0.001). The mean SSRI in the study group was 92.1?±?2.37% compared to 23.1?±?4.35% in the control group ( p <?0.001). The study group also showed significantly lower post-treatment GAGS scores (7.01?±?2.01 vs. 9.03?±?2.36, p =?0.022) and P-VAS scores (1.2?±?0.6 vs. 4.8?±?1.1, p <?0.001). Adverse events were mild and transient, with no significant difference in the incidence of skin irritation between groups (93.3% vs. 84.6%, p =?0.583). Combining red-blue LED phototherapy with a 4-week course of minocycline is a rapid, highly effective, and safe therapeutic strategy for AC, outperforming conventional polypharmacy while halving the duration of systemic antibiotic exposure. Despite the inherent limitations of a retrospective design, these findings support the integration of LED therapy to optimize the management of severe acne.

Introduction:
Acne conglobata (AC) represents a severe, chronic, and often disfiguring subtype of nodulocystic acne, characterized by inflammatory nodules, abscesses, interconnecting sinus tracts, and resultant scarring ( 1 ). The pathogenesis is multifactorial, involving follicular hyperkeratinization, sebum overproduction, colonization by Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes ), and complex inflammatory and immunological responses ( 2 ). Affecting approximately 20% of adolescents and young adults with…

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