Evaluation of the role of exogenous estrogen in postoperative progress after laser skin resurfacing.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies indicate that exogenous estrogens may promote wound healing. Many laser skin resurfacing (LSR) patients use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or oral contraceptive pills (OCPs).


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of exogenous estrogen on LSR postoperative healing.


METHODS
This is a retrospective case control study of 44 female patients who underwent combination CO2/Er:YAG full-face LSR. Sixteen postmenopausal patients using oral HRT during procedure and follow-up were compared with 16 controls. Six premenopausal patients on estrogen-containing OCPs during the procedure and follow-up were compared with six controls. Case and control groups were matched by age, skin type, and treatment technique. Premenopausal and postmenopausal groups were compared. The variables evaluated included erythema, swelling, crusting, purpura, pain, pruritus, reepithelialization, complications, and patient assessment of outcome.


RESULTS
For premenopausal and postmenopausal women, there were no significant differences in outcome measures of postoperative morbidity between groups receiving and not receiving estrogen. The incidence of complications, time until re-epithelialization, and patient assessment of outcome were similar between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that exogenous estrogen in the form of HRT or OCPs does not clinically alter postoperative progress in combination CO2/Er:YAG LSR patients. Premenopausal women heal comparably to postmenopausal women after LSR.
Batra
R Sonia
RS
Department of Dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.
Dover
Jeffrey S
JS
Hobbs
Lori
L
Phillips
Tania J
TJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*