THURSDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with acne scars, ablative fractional resurfacing with a novel 30-watt laser that combines carbon dioxide ablation with a fractional photothermolysis system may significantly improve facial appearance with minimal side effects, according to study findings published in the August issue of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Anne M. Chapas, M.D., of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York in New York City, and colleagues studied 13 patients aged 28 to 58 who underwent two or three treatments at intervals of one to two months.
After three months, the researchers' topographic analysis showed improvements of 43 percent to 79.9 percent in the depths of acneiform scars, with a mean level of improvement of 66.8 percent. The researchers also found that the post-treatment side effects were mild to moderate and transient, and that they quickly resolved during the study period.
"The efficacy and favorable side effects profile for this technology, with low incidence of pigmentary changes, make it a viable alternative for the treatment of moderate to severe acneiform scarring," the authors conclude. "Depth of ablation appears to be the critical attribute of this modality for this indication. Future work would be beneficial, including longer follow-up periods for the assessment of possible late-emerging pigmentary changes. In addition, optimizing parameter selection for darker skin type patients needs further study."
One of the researchers is a Reliant Technologies shareholder and investigator.
Abstract
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