Acne - Post acne erythema (PAE)

Question 1

What is Post Acne Erythema?

Answer 1

Persistent red/pink discolouration due microvasculature changes after inflammatory acne lesions heal

Question 2

Post acne erythema pathophysiology?

Answer 2

• Affects fitz 1-3
• Dilated Telangiectasia within lesions = erythematous appearance
• Epidermis temporary thinning during wound healing process of acne inflammatory lesion = allow light to reflect more to dilated microvasculature = persistent red of PAE

Question 3

How to treat Post acne erythema?

Answer 3

Laser - targets oxyhaemoglobin
- Long pulse millisecond: KTP (532nm), PDL (585nm/595nm), Nd: YAG (1064nm)
- Non ablative fractional laser (NAFL) modalities

ILS filters = targets oxyhaemoglobin
- Filters: 515nm, 560nm, 590nm
M22 vascular filter