Improvement of atrophic acne scars with a 1,320 nm Nd:YAG laser: retrospective study.
BACKGROUND
Facial acne scarring has been treated with multiple methods with varying degrees of improvement. Although the 1,320 nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser has been widely used to improve photoaging, studies analyzing its effects on atrophic acne scarring are limited.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of a dynamic cryogen-cooled 1,320 nm Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of atrophic facial acne scars in a larger cohort of patients with long-term follow-up.


METHODS
Twenty-nine patients (skin phototypes I-IV) with facial acne scarring received a mean of 5.5 (range 2-17) treatments with a 1,320 nm Nd:YAG laser. Objective physician assessment scores of improvement were determined by side-by-side comparison of preoperative and postoperative photographs at a range of 1 to 27 months (mean 10.4 months) postoperatively. Subjective patient self-assessment scores of improvement were also obtained.


RESULTS
Acne scarring was significantly improved by both physician and patient assessment scores. Mean improvement was 2.8 (p < .05) on a 0- to 4-point scale by physician assessment and 5.4 (p < .05) on a 0- to 10-point scale by patient assessment. No significant complications were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Nonablative laser skin resurfacing with a 1,320 nm Nd:YAG laser can effectively improve the appearance of facial acne scars with minimal adverse sequelae.
Bellew
Supriya G
SG
Maryland Laser, Skin and Vein Institute, Hunt Valley, MD 21030, USA.
Lee
Catherine
C
Weiss
Margaret A
MA
Weiss
Robert A
RA
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome