A 1726 nm laser treatment for acne was developed utilizing state-of-the-art technology, thermal imaging, and software algorithm-assisted controls to achieve a safe and effective treatment.
Wausau, WI (March 21, 2025)— Numerous lasers and light sources have been studied for the treatment of acne with varying degrees of success, but none have demonstrated the ability to selectively damage sebaceous glands (SG) without significant damage to surrounding skin structures or have provided a durable response. This study highlights the methods used to develop a multi-pulse 1726 nm laser system combined with bulk air-cooling for selective SG photothermolysis. The multi-pulse protocols, which are significantly different from those used by others with only one or two pulses, were able to damage the SG without damaging the epidermis. Thermal imaging was used as a way to control the pulse delivery at the ideal temperature and depth, providing for a safe, effective, reproducible, and durable treatment of acne.
The study, led by Emil A. Tanghetti, MD, is titled “Treatment of Acne With a 1726 nm Laser, Air Cooling, and Real-Time Temperature Monitoring, Software-Assisted Power Adjustment to Achieve a Temperature Endpoint With Selective Sebaceous Gland Photothermolysis.” The clinical report, published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (LSM), the official journal of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS), was selected as the March 2025 Editor’s Choice.
“The laser treatment of acne has always been an aspirational goal of our team. From the basic science to the construction of the device, our team has devoted our efforts over the last nine years to construct a device that would treat acne with a durable response,” Tanghetti said. “We employed new ways to use air cooling, thermal imaging, and software algorithms to bring this state-of-the-art device to the marketplace.”
The treatment is well-suited for all patient skin types, including skin of color. Real-time temperature measurement provided more than just safety, but permitted targeting of a surface temperature to address tissue thermal variability based upon anatomy (e.g., forehead, cheek, and back), not Fitzpatrick Skin Type. The authors believe that the hardware, software, and techniques developed could have broad applications for many thermally based devices. The precise control of treatment temperatures has resulted in better patient safety and enhanced efficacy.
Emil A. Tanghetti, MD is a dermatologist practicing in Sacramento, CA, at the Center for Dermatology and Laser Surgery. He did his dermatology training at Harvard with a fellowship at the Wellman Lab. His practice has specialized in medical dermatology, laser surgery, and clinical trials for drugs and devices to treat acne, psoriasis, and photodamage. He is an Associate Editor of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, and his work has been widely published. Acne has been a central part of his clinical practice and research.
Editor’s Choice is an exclusive article published in LSM, the official journal of ASLMS. View the complete manuscript.
The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS) is the largest multidisciplinary professional organization dedicated to the development and application of lasers and related technology for health care applications. ASLMS promotes excellence in patient care by advancing biomedical application of lasers and other related technologies worldwide. ASLMS membership includes physicians, surgeons, nurses, and allied health professionals representing multiple specialties, physicists involved in product development, biomedical engineers, biologists, industry representatives and manufacturers. For more information, visit aslms.org.