[Therapy of acne with visible light. Decreased irradiation time by using a blue-light high-energy lamp]

Lipophilic propionibacterium acnes stores large amounts of porphyrins. This peculiarity can be used for photodynamic destruction of propionibacteria. After repeated irradiations with a blue light-type high pressure lamp (Narva NC 1000-64) both acne and seborrhoea was improved markedly (10 irradiations, each for 10 minutes, cumulative light dose 325 J/cm2). Also porphyrin content inside acne follicles dropped. Serial irradiations with short range visible light (400 to 420 nm) are recommended for acne treatment during the light-poor season of the year.