title: Superficial erbium:YAG laser resurfacing of photodamaged skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Light chemical peels and microdermabrasion have enjoyed recent popularity for the treatment of mild photoaging. However, clinical improvement from these modalities is often minimal from both a patient's and physician's perspective. Erbium:YAG lasers have been effective in treating mild to moderate photoaging, but the need for either regional or general anesthesia, as well as the significant post-treatment recovery period has limited its use.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to utilize a very low fluence approach to erbium:YAG laser resurfacing, with topical anesthesia, to ascertain its efficacy in treating mild to moderate photoaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 250 subjects aged 28-80 years with skin types 1-4 and mild to moderate facial rhytids were treated with topical anesthesia and subsequently one pass of a 2940 nm erbium:YAG laser, using between 5 and 17.5 J/cm2. In addition, 58 of the treated facial subjects underwent neck resurfacing with fluences between 5 and 15 J/cm2 and eight treated facial subjects underwent upper chest resurfacing at fluences of 5-7 J/cm2. A single treatment was received by 246 subjects; four subjects were treated a second time after a 1-month interval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most subjects completely re-epithelialized by 3-4 days; healing time was depth dependent. Most subjects were able to start skin care regimens within 1-2 weeks after the procedure. Results were judged to be excellent in individuals with thin skin and good in subjects with thicker skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One pass of low fluence erbium:YAG resurfacing, under topical anesthesia, was effective for the treatment of mild to moderate photoaging.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami School of Medicine and Aesthetic Science Institute, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA. drpozner@asimd.com
authors.forename: Jason N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Pozner
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004871:Erbium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012060:Rejuvenation / Q000502:physiology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D004871:Erbium