Progress in nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy for Acne vulgaris: Recent clinical advances and potential AI integration.

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects everyone at least once in their life. Notably, acne vulgaris predominantly negatively affects the quality of life of teenagers. Treating acne vulgaris remains challenging for some patients. Currently, a variety of topical and oral medications are used to eliminate acne vulgaris; however, risks involving bacterial drug resistance and potential side effects persist. Therefore, demand for novel alternatives to conventional medical treatments is growing. Photothermal therapy (PTT) has the potential to provide quick, safe, effective, and side-effect-free acne vulgaris treatment. PTT using nanoparticles (NPs) converts near-infrared (NIR) light into heat to target and deactivate overactive sebaceous glands, leading to reduced sebum production and inflammation. A handful of human clinical studies on NP-mediated PTT showing improvements in skin clarity and patient satisfaction have been conducted. However, these trials involved small patient populations, short durations, and a lack of sufficient controls. Artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionize acne treatment through a synergistic approach that incorporates PTT. The combination of AI with NP-mediated PTT enables rapid and large-scale patient treatment, precise identification of acne lesions, and real-time monitoring of treatment progress. This synergy can save time, improve diagnostic accuracy, and optimize treatment options for patients. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent advances in clinical studies of NP-mediated photothermal acne therapy integrated with AI, which holds promise for healing hundreds of millions of patients with acne.