Intense pulsed light treatments increase the expression of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) in the skin of patients with mild-to-moderate acne, and this action may help explain its efficacy in reducing acne breakouts. Musheera M Ali, MD, et al, of the Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK, analyzed biopsies taken from 20 patients at baseline, 48 hours after one IPL treatment and one week following treatment. The biopsies were immunohistochemically analyzed to determine the expression of TGF-β1 and the immunolocalization of Smad3. The researchers used digital images and image analysis software to analyze the results, which were published in Cosmetic Dermatology, September 2013. They write, “Intense pulsed light elicited a consistent increase in epidermal TGF-β1 expression (B2 vs. B1: P = 0.004 and B3 vs. B1: P = 0.007). Furthermore, it resulted in enhanced nuclear immunolocalization of Smad3 (B2 vs. B1: epidermis, P = 0.000055 and dermis, P = 0.014; B3 vs. B1: epidermis, P = 0.00024 and dermis, P = 0.008).”
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