title: Effect of carbon dioxide laser ablation followed by intralesional steroids on keloids.
abstract: Keloid is a difficult-to-treat condition and an ideal treatment modality is not available. Carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser is one of the modalities to treat keloids.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of CO(2) laser ablation followed by intralesional steroids on keloids.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, single-center, uncontrolled, open study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight patients having 35 keloids were included in the study. Keloids were ablated or excised with CO(2) laser followed by intralesional steroid 3-4 weeks apart for 6 months. Results were evaluated after 6 months of stopping of intralesional steroids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fisher's exact test was applied for obtaining difference in recurrence rate of regular and irregular patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients followed up regularly for intralesional steroids. During 6 months of follow-up after stoppage of steroids, only two patients showed recurrence. Ten patients were irregular for intralesional steroids and seven of them showed recurrence. Difference in recurrence rate of regular and irregular patients was significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only CO(2) laser ablation is not sufficient for halting the pathogenesis of keloid formation.We therefore conclude that CO(2) laser followed by intralesional steroid is a useful therapeutic approach for the treatment of keloids; however, patients need to be observed for recurrence over the next 1 year.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Gaurav A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Prajct P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Sao
authors.forename: Uday S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Khopkar