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

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.