title: Laser treatment of scars.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Erythematous and hypertrophic scars may occur after surgical procedures. This paper describes a novel technique for their resolution.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to describe long-term results of treating erythematous, hypertrophic scars with the flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser (FLPDL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight patients who presented with erythematous/hypertrophic scars were treated with the FLPDL with or without intralesional triamcinolone. Patients were evaluated by physicians on a 25% increment of objective improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-three percent of scars appearing on the face for less than 1 year totally resolved in an average of 2.3 treatments. Twenty percent of scars on the face for greater than 1 year had a total resolution in 4.4 treatments with an average improvement of 88%. Scars on nonfacial areas for less than 1 year had a 25% incidence of total resolution over an average of 2.5 treatments with an average improvement of 81%. Scars in nonfacial distributions over 1 year of age had a 12% total resolution with an average 62% improvement over 2.2 treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FLPDL is a useful adjuvant in the treatment of erythematous, hypertrophic scars.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California School of Medicine, San Diego 92037, USA.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D053685:Laser Therapy; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014221:Triamcinolone