Topical ALA-Photodynamic Therapy Combined with Acne Debridement and Meticulous Nursing for the Treatment of Moderate–Severe Acne in Adolescent Patients

Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that often occurs in adolescent patients (adolescence is a specific period in which individuals undergo rapid development as well as physical and psychological changes). It most commonly appears on the face, chest, and back. Acne types can be divided into mild, moderate, and severe acne according to the disease’s extremity. Due to its large skin lesion area, severe acne can be destructive to the patient’s appearance. If it is not diagnosed and treated early, it can also make serious psychological burdens for adolescent patients, affecting their compliance and the treatment’s effects. This will not only affect the patient’s quality of life but also lead to varying degrees of family and social problems.¹ In recent years, accumulated literatures have confirmed 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT), which is based on metabolites produced by hair follicle sebaceous glands after the topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid, as an effective new acne treatment method. Following irradiation by a certain light source, ALA-PDT generates active oxygen, killing the Propionibacterium acnes and destroying the hair follicle sebaceous glands.^2,3 Another key point is to increase the therapeutic adherence for acne patients in order to reduce side effects such as erythema, dryness and desquamation.⁴ However, the ssstreatment is correlated with significant intraoperative pain and postoperative adverse reactions, such as erythema, hyperpigmentation, and desquamation, all of which have serious psychological impacts on adolescent patients. There is currently a lack of experience regarding meticulous clinical nursing in adolescent patients. It has been found by Wu et al⁵ that photodynamic therapy combined with acne squeezing is effective in the treatment of moderate–severe acne; it also reduces the incidence of recurrence. In the present study, acne debridement + meticulous nursing interventions were applied. This intervention includes the treatment and care of preoperative (acne debridement pretreatment), intraoperative (nursing during treatment) and postoperative (skin nursing, psychological care, daily nursing skincare product application, and lifestyle and diet education). This intervention carries out comprehensive nursing from the acne part, psychology and physiology of patients, which aims to treat adolescent patients with moderate–severe acne, and relatively satisfactory results were achieved. The details are reported as follows.

Subjects and Methods

Study Subjects

A total of 60 adolescent patients (54 females and 6 males) with moderate–severe acne who were admitted to our hospital between January 2018 and January 2020 were selected as the study subjects. The patients were divided into two groups, the control group and the observation group (n = 30, each), using retrospective analysis of treatment and nursing methods. The inclusion criteria referred to the diagnosis of Grade III–IV acne in accordance with the Pillsbury scale. The exclusion criteria were: (1) patients treated with antibiotics within 1 month before treatment; (2) patients who took retinoids within the 6 months before treatment; (3) patients with other skin diseases; and (4) patients with a history of photosensitivity or keloids. The patients were aged 15–20 years, with an average age of 16 years. The minimum disease duration was 6 months, and the maximum duration was 36 months, with an average duration of 10.8 months. Clinical manifestations of the disease included multiple inflammatory lesions (eg, papules, pustules, cysts, and nodules) on the face (Table 1). This study was conducted with approval from the Ethics Committee of Beijing Hospital (No: 2021BJYYEC-163-01). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Table 1 General Characteristic Comparison Between the Two Groups (x ± s), (n), and [n (%)]

Intervention Methods

The Control Group

After routine facial cleansing, 30 patients were treated with standardized ALA-PDT. The therapeutic measures were as follows: 10% of the ALA gel solution (produced by Shanghai Fudan Zhangjiang Biomedical Co., Ltd.) was applied evenly onto the lesion and in a 0.5–1.0 cm range of the surrounding area. The local area was closed with a bandage for 60 min to prevent contact with light. After washing the face using sterile normal saline, a light-emitting diode photodynamic therapy instrument (produced by Wuhan YAG Photoelectric Technology Co., Ltd.) was used for 633 nm wavelength irradiation, with an output power of 20 mW/cm², average irradiation dose of 80 J/cm², spot area of 15 mm × 40 mm, pulse width of 30–50 ms, and distance of 10–20 cm from the face. The patient’s eyes were protected with light-shielding glasses during the irradiation. The duration of each treatment was 20 min once a week, and the duration of one treatment course was 4 weeks. The patients were followed up with until 6 months after the treatment.

The Observation Group

A total of 30 patients were pretreated with acne debridement in a sterile operating room. Next, they were treated with standardized ALA-PDT therapy (the same as in the control group) combined with meticulous nursing. The specific operational measures were as follows:

(1) Acne debridement pretreatment: After face cleansing, the ionic spray machine was used for 10 minutes. Next, the face treatment area was disinfected with iodophor, and the acne lesions, including pimples, papules, pustules, and cysts, were pretreated. Pustules and pimples were punctured using a needle, and pustules were squeezed to remove the pus. During the operation, mechanical injury caused by excessive force, which increases the risk of acne scarring, should be avoided, and close attention should be paid to the aseptic operation principle in order to avoid skin infection. After completing the debridement of all facial lesions, the treatment area was again disinfected with iodophor.⁶

(2) Nursing during treatment: When applying the gels containing ALA, sensitive areas, such as the lips and eyelids, should be avoided. If a small amount of liquid is inadvertently applied to the mucosal area, the photosensitizer must be removed thoroughly after bandaging in order to reduce residue as well as avoid postoperative redness and pain.⁷

(3) Postoperative skin nursing: Immediate postoperative skin reactions include erythema and swelling. In the present study, medical cold compresses containing hyaluronic acid or antibiotic peptides were applied to the patients’ faces and intermittently ice-packed for 30–60 min using a cold spray machine. The cold compresses were removed after the redness and swelling subsided. Then, 2–3 patches were applied daily for one week to promote skin barrier repair. If skin desquamation occurred after the erythema faded, the patient was advised to apply a cream containing hyaluronic acid dressing 2–3 times a day to enhance facial moisturization and facilitate skin barrier repair.⁸

(4) Pain care: Before the treatment, patients were questioned about their usual pain tolerance; in the case of pain intolerance, communication with the doctor about analgesic medication before the treatment was necessary.⁹

(5) Psychological care: Psychological interventions for adolescent patients was individualized; this intervention was conducted in a relatively quiet and undisturbed treatment room before each treatment, as excessive disturbance by other patients can cause anxiety. Additionally, simple language or popular science terms was adopted when introducing the pathogenesis and treatment in order to avoid textbook communication. Furthermore, questions raised by the patient were explained calmly, negative patient emotions correctly identified, and anxiety levels assessed in time. Special attention was paid to protecting patient privacy. Moreover, one was also careful not to hurt the patient’s self-esteem with wording, and family members should be instructed to care about the psychological problems of the adolescent girls and appropriately provide them with encouragement and support.¹⁰

(6) Daily nursing skincare product application: The patients included in the present study were instructed to choose appropriate skincare products according to their skin type and lesions. In patients who mainly had acne and pimples, along with generally oily skin, skincare products containing oil-controlling, keratolytic, exfoliating, anti-inflammatory, and skin-barrier-repairing active ingredients were adopted for daily care. The skincare process comprised: (1) cleansing with a neutral or weak alkaline cleanser; (2) applying an oil control and skin barrier repair gel; and (3) applying a lotion with keratolytic and anti-inflammatory effects on local lesions. Skin nursing was conducted twice a day. Attention was paid to applying warm water, washing the face with gentle movements, and avoiding the use of any exfoliating bath products or facial cleansers that damage the skin barrier. The patients were instructed to observe the skin lesions over time after application in order to reduce skin allergies caused by improper skincare product use, conduct skincare patch tests if necessary, and discontinue the application immediately if allergic reactions occurred during the application. In the case of severe skin desquamation or itching in the treated area, patients were advised to use medical skincare products under medical supervision.^9,11

(7) Lifestyle and diet education: The patients were assisted in preparing a science-supported and healthy diet according to their lifestyle and current diet. The patients were advised to reduce milk intake in their daily lives.¹²

Observation Indicators

(1) Therapeutic effect judgment: The lesion evaluation was based on the lesion remission rate¹³ ([number of lesions before treatment − number of lesions after treatment])/number of lesions before treatment × 100%), and was divided into four grades: basic healing, significantly effective healing, effective healing, and ineffective healing. Basic healing was defined as a ≥90% lesion remission, significantly effective healing as a 60–89% lesion remission, effective healing as a 20–59% lesion remission, and ineffective healing as a <20 lesion remission. The total therapeutic effectiveness = (cases with basic healing + cases with significantly effective healing)/total cases × 100%.

(2) Adverse reaction incidence: The incidence of erythema, edema, desquamation, and acne scarring, which commonly occurred during treatment.

(3) Pain scoring: The visual analogue score (VAS) ranged from 0–10 points, with 0–1 point meaning no pain, 2–3 points meaning mild pain, 4–5 points meaning moderate pain, and >5 points meaning severe pain. The score was determined by the patients themselves according to their pain conditions.

(4) Patient satisfaction evaluation: our hospital satisfaction survey was adopted to determine patient satisfaction. The survey was divided into three items: very satisfied, satisfied, and dissatisfied. The satisfaction rate = (number of very satisfied cases + number of satisfied cases)/total number of cases × 100%.

Statistic Analysis

The Statistical Package for Social Sciences 20.0 software was adopted for statistical data analysis. The measurement data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (x ± s); the t-test was used for comparisons between the two groups. The countable data were expressed in either frequency or percentage (%); the χ² test or the Fisher exact probability method was adopted for comparisons between the two groups. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Effectiveness Comparison Between the Two Groups

The total treatment effectiveness was 86.7% in the observation group and 60% in the control group (χ² = 5.455); the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05) (Table 2, –4). Written informed consent has been provided by the patient to have the case details and any accompanying images published.

Table 2 Therapeutic Effect Comparison Between the Two Groups

Figure 1 A female patient in control group: before treatment.

Figure 2 A female patient in control group: follow up 6 months after treatment.

Figure 3 A female patient aged 20 of the observed group. Frontal and bilateral clinical photos of the face before treatment.

Figure 4 A female patient aged 20 of the observed group. Frontal and bilateral clinical photos of the face 6 months after treatment.

Adverse Reaction Incidence Comparison Between the Two Groups

Patients in both groups experienced different degrees of erythema, swelling, pain, and other adverse reactions immediately after the operation. The reactions improved with symptomatic treatment; however, the relief came more slowly in the control group than in the observation group. The respective incidences of erythema, swelling, and itching after three days of treatment were compared between the two groups (χ² = 8.531); the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05 in all) (Table 3).

Table 3 Adverse Reaction Incidence Comparison Between the Two Groups Three Days After Treatment

Postoperative VAS Comparison Between the Two Groups

There was no statistically significant difference in the VAS between the two groups immediately after treatment; however, the VAS in the observation group decreased significantly at 30 min and 60 min after the operation, respectively; the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05 in both) (Table 4).

Table 4 Postoperative VAS Comparison Between the Two Groups

Postoperative Patient Satisfaction Comparison Between the Two Groups

The patient satisfaction was 90% in the observation group and 73.3% in the control group (χ² = 4.812); the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05) (Table 5).

Table 5 Patient Satisfaction Comparison Between the Two Groups

Discussion

Acne is a dermatological disease commonly occurring in adolescent girls. The disease pathogenesis is complex, and it is correlated with excessive sebum production, abnormal keratinization of follicular sebaceous gland openings, the P. acnes infection, androgens, genetics.¹⁴ Currently, the treatment methods mainly include oral medication and topical treatments. However, the adverse effects and drug resistance of oral medication are the main worrying issues for adolescent patients and their parents. In the new version of the Chinese acne treatment guidelines, photodynamic therapy is recommended as an alternative treatment method for moderate–severe acne when systemic medication fails or is not tolerated by the patient.¹⁵ However, patients often experience intraoperative adverse reactions, such as erythema, edema, and pain, during the therapeutic operation. Studies show that pain during illumination is likely to be correlated with tissue injury, nerve stimulation, and differences in individual pain thresholds.¹⁶ Therefore, meticulous nursing is worthy of promotion in clinical practice for ensuring treatment effectiveness and safety.

Meticulous nursing includes aspects such as preoperative acne debridement, intra-operative nursing, postoperative skincare, pain care, daily care, psychological care, and lifestyle education. Zhang (a domestic researcher) et al¹⁷ used antimicrobial peptides combined with hyaluronic acid dressing to treat moderate acne vulgaris and found that it could effectively alleviate inflammatory skin lesions. In a study by Xu,¹⁸ a superficial dermal injury and skin barrier disruption mouse model was constructed after laser surgery, and it was confirmed that hyaluronic acid dressing could promote skin barrier recovery. Besides, immediate application of intermittent ice packs using the cold spray machine after treatment could not only treat the erythema but also reduce patient pain. In the present study, the cold spray machine process duration could be increased according to the specific patient’s pain tolerance, and if necessary, music care could be added to reduce any negative emotions caused by the treatment, thus improving patient pain tolerance.¹⁹ Relevant studies show that, compared with patients with healthy skin, patients with acne have a more active sebaceous gland proliferation, with an increased sebum secretion and water loss through the epidermis as well as a water deficiency. Therefore, the use of topical anti-acne skincare products that control oil and repair the skin barrier is necessary in order to adjust the patient’s skin condition and maintain the water–oil balance, thus stabilizing the effects of photodynamic therapy and preventing recurrence.²⁰ Lifestyle education and guidance could help patients gradually develop healthy and regular lifestyle habits, thus helping them rebuild confidence and allowing the treated skin to recover.^21,22 It is worth noting that related studies have shown a positive correlation between acne and the intake of whole, low-fat, and skimmed milk. Milk containing the bovine insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), which binds to the human IGF-1 receptor and contains dihydrotestosterone precursors, including placental-derived progesterone, 5α-pregnenedione, and 5α-androstenedione, may promote acne formation.²³

The care process is carefully detailed and focuses on the disease while paying close attention to psychological care in the adolescent patients in order to improve treatment comfort and safety. Moderate–severe acne predominantly occurs in adolescent girls. As the majority of acne lesions are concentrated on the face, their presence may result in the disfigurement of facial appearance in severe cases. This can easily affect the patient’s mood, cause depression or loneliness, and even lead to internet addiction.²⁴ Therefore, this study conducted psychological care for the patients.

Therefore, in the present study, patients in the observation group were pretreated with acne debridement in a sterile operating room before photodynamic therapy. Acne squeezing can eliminate sebaceous duct blockage, ensure smooth sebum elimination, inhibit P. acnes reproduction, reduce inflammatory reactions, and accelerate the ALA absorption and penetration, thus improving treatment efficiency. After the 6-month follow-ups, which included the standardized 4 photodynamic treatments, it was observed that the acne lesions disappeared with satisfactory results. There was no recurrence, and no adverse reactions, such as keloids and hyperpigmentation, were observed. Patients should be instructed to continue with the routine daily care in the future in order to prevent recurrence.

In summary, the application mode of meticulous nursing in the photodynamic treatment of adolescent patients with moderate–severe acne might improve treatment safety and reduce postoperative adverse reaction occurrence. The method has good clinical effects and is worthy of further promotion.