Non-ablative 1550-nm erbium-glass and ablative 10 600-nm carbon dioxide fractional lasers for acne scars: a randomized split-face study with blinded response evaluation.
BACKGROUND
Non-ablative 1550-nm erbium-doped fractional photothermolysis systems (FPS) and 10 600-nm carbon dioxide fractional laser systems (CO(2) FS) have been effectively used to treat scars.


OBJECTIVE
We compared the efficacy and safety of single-session treatments of FPS and CO(2) FS for acne scars through a randomized, split-face, evaluator-blinded study.


METHODS
Eight patients with acne scars were enrolled in this study. Half of each subject's face was treated with FPS and the other half was treated with CO(2) FS. We used a quartile grading scale for evaluations.


RESULTS
At 3 months after the treatment, the mean grade of improvement based on clinical assessment was 2.0 +/- 0.5 for FPS and 2.5 +/- 0.8 for CO(2) FS. On each side treated by FPS and CO(2) FS, the mean duration of post-therapy crusting and scaling was 2.3 and 7.4 days respectively and that of post-therapy erythema was 7.5 and 11.5 days respectively. The mean VAS pain score was 3.9 +/- 2.0 with the FPS and 7.0 +/- 2.0 with the CO(2) FS.


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrated the efficacy and safety of single-session acne scar treatment using FPS and CO(2) FS in East Asian patients. We believe that our study could be used as an essential reference when choosing laser modalities for scar treatment.
Cho
S B
SB
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
S J
SJ
Cho
S
S
Oh
S H
SH
Chung
W S
WS
Kang
J M
JM
Kim
Y K
YK
Kim
D H
DH
D000153:Acne Keloid / Q000208:ethnology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004871:Erbium; D005202:Asia, Eastern; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D004871:Erbium