title: Carbon dioxide laser resurfacing of peri-oral rhytids in scleroderma patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The short pulse duration high-energy carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers have been used in the past for treating cutaneous pathology and more recently for cosmetic improvements of rhytids, photo-aging, and acne.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to determine the benefits of CO2 laser resurfacing on the severe peri-oral rhytidosis commonly seen in patients with systemic scleroderma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients were studied and evaluated for satisfactory wound healing, improved cosmetic result, and lack of complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All three patients experienced significant improvement following laser resurfacing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrated the safe and effective treatment for peri-oral rhytidosis in patients with generalized scleroderma utilizing CO2 laser resurfacing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, California, USA.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Apfelberg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Greenbaum
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome