title: Disappointing results following resurfacing of facial skin with CO2 lasers for prophylaxis of keratoses and cancers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With the development of the short-pulse CO2 laser it was hoped that this resurfacing would prevent recurrent actinic keratoses and basal cell cancers similar to resurfacing with dermabrasion, laser abrasion, and deep chemical peel. However, we have begun to see patients that are developing keratoses and cancers within months following laser resurfacing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To document the problems of recurrent keratoses and basal cell cancers in patients following CO2 laser resurfacing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients with extreme sun damage were seen at 3, 6, and 12 months following CO2 laser resurfacing for repeat color and ultraviolet photography and clinical examination to look for erythematous dyskeratotic lesions or papules with pearly borders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five of our patients (14.3%) who had undergone recent CO2 resurfacing developed actinic keratoses and basal cell cancers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CO2 laser resurfacing is not as effective as dermabrasion, chemabrasion, and deep chemical peel for the prophylaxis of actinic keratoses and basal cell cancers, especially in Fitzpatrick type I and II patients.
authors.affiliation: Fulton Skin Institute, New Port Beach, California, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Helton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dahlberg
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000517:prevention & control; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D015595:Skin Aging; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects