title: Nonablative fractional photothermolysis for acne scars: clinical and in vivo microscopic documentation of treatment efficacy.
abstract: Fractional photothermolysis has been shown to improve various types of scarring, including atrophic acne scars. The aim of the present authors was to assess the efficacy and safety of the nonablative fractional photothermolysis in the treatment of moderate and severe acne scars. Eighty-seven patients with moderate or severe acne scarring were treated with six sessions with a 1540-nm Erbium glass fiber laser at 3-week intervals. Six months after the final session, 7/87 (8%) patients showed a moderate improvement, whereas 80/87 (92%) patients had a marked improvement. In a subset of patients, the present authors also applied in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy to highlight the relevant microscopic changes. Hence, early and late posttreatment findings, most importantly the replacement of a coarser collagen with a new one, similar to the collagen seen in healthy skin, were observed. In accordance to previous studies, the present authors conclude that nonablative fractional photothermolysis is a safe and effective treatment for moderate or severe acne scarring.
authors.affiliation: I.C.L.I.D. (Istituto di Chirurgia e Laserchirurgia In Dermatologia), Milano, Italy. info@laserforum.it
authors.forename: Pier Luca
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Bencini
authors.forename: Athanasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tourlaki
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galimberti
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellacani
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Giorgi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guerriero
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004871:Erbium; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004871:Erbium