Recent advances in combination treatments for photoaging: review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Photoaging of the skin is a condition characterized by a combination of physical findings including dyspigmentation, fine wrinkles, telangiectasias, tactile roughness, and precancerous change. A combination approach, treating these changes in skin pigmentation and texture simultaneously, is often required to ensure patient satisfaction.


OBJECTIVE
To review the dermatologic literature on the use of combination treatments in photoaging using Medline.


RESULTS
Review of the Medline literature identified 24 studies of combination approaches to photoaging in which physician and patient evaluation of efficacy of the treatment approaches were performed. Ten studies contained histologic evidence that combination approaches to photoaging, including nonablative and ablative laser resurfacing, topical retinoids, and topical photosensizers with lasers and light sources, produced cutaneous repair of photodamaged skin. These studies documented histologic improvement in various features of photodamaged skin, including change in epidermal and dermal thickness and stratum corneum compaction, greater type I and III collagen production, and less sunburn cell and thymine dimer formation after ultraviolet light exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Review of the literature demonstrates the progress of dermatologic science in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of ultraviolet light-induced damage and in the development of novel combination approaches for repair of photodamage and prevention of cutaneous malignancy.
Tierney
Emily P
EP
Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana, Carmel, Indiana, USA.
Hanke
C William
CW
D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015595:Skin Aging
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A