Two presentations at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) in April highlighted the potential of tunable silver particles (SNA-001, Sienna Biopharmaceuticals) to improve outcomes in laser treatments for acne and hair removal.
Brian D. Zelickson, MD, presented, “Treatment of Moderate to Severe Acne with SNA-001 Mediated Selective Photothermolysis: A Prospective Controlled Feasibility Study.” The split-back study included 10 subjects (6 male, 4 female) with moderate to severe acne. Each received four weekly treatments with an 810nm laser alone (control) and SNA-001 plus 810nm laser (treatment). The average improvement in acne lesions after four treatments was 45.5% on control side and 62.8% on the treatment side. The silver particles significantly reduced total and inflammatory lesions at 12 weeks post treatments.
Dr. Zelickson noted that patients who received higher laser energy had the best results.
Mitchel Goldman, MD, presented “SNA-001 Mediated Selective Photothermolysis for Permanent Reduction of Light Pigmented Hair: A Randomized Evaluator-Blinded Feasability Study.” Ten patients were randomized to undergo treatment with an 810nm laser alone (control) or photoparticle therapy with SNA-001 plus 810nm laser (treatment group). Subjects underwent three treatments (30ms, 30J/cm) spaced two weeks apart. Hair counts were taken 12 weeks after the last treatment.
In subjects with brown or light brown hair, there was no significant difference in hair reduction. In subjects with red or blonde hair, there was a very significant difference in hair reduction. The SNA-001 particles allowed the researchers to destroy the light hair.
Dr. Goldman noted that the silver particles did not increase pain. He and his colleagues are currently working on a larger, multi-center study.
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