title: A retrospective chart review to assess the safety of nonablative fractional laser resurfacing in Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laser resurfacing in patients with Fitzpatrick skin phototypes (SPT) IV to VI is associated with a higher risk of pigmentary alteration. There is a paucity of studies evaluating optimum treatment parameters for fractional lasers in darkly pigmented skin types.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective review of medical records for patients with SPT IV to VI who were treated with a 1,550 nm erbium-doped fractional nonablative laser (Fraxel Re:Store SR 1550; Solta Medical, Hayword, CA). Data were collected from patient charts and the clinic laser logbook from January 2008 to January 2012. The frequency of treatment-associated postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) and treatment settings used were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 115 total laser sessions (45 patients) were included in our analysis. Five of the sessions (4%) were accompanied by PIH, 2 of which occurred in a single patient. Only 1 episode of PIH lasted longer than 1 month (2 months). Two of the 5 cases had only transient PIH (≤7 days), one of which was reported by the patient and not clinically evident on examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 1,550 nm erbium-doped fractional laser is well tolerated in SPT IV to VI. Fractional laser resurfacing, with the settings used and pretreatment and posttreatment hydroquinone 4% cream, was associated with a low risk of PIH in darker skin types.
authors: Department of Dermatology, St Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Charlotte M
authors: CM
authors: Clark
authors: Jonathan I
authors: JI
authors: Silverberg
authors: Andrew F
authors: AF
authors: Alexis
mesh_terms: D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004871:Erbium; D006801:Humans; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D012880:Skin Pigmentation
chemical_list: D006873:Hydroquinones; D004871:Erbium; C031927:hydroquinone