title: Novel post-treatment care after ablative and fractional CO2 laser resurfacing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates a topical oxygen emulsion (TOE) to reduce adverse effects after skin rejuvenation with a fully ablative CO2 laser alone and in combination with a fractional ablative CO2 laser.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (n = 100) seeking skin rejuvenation underwent CO2 laser resurfacing. Group A patients (n = 34) received a single deep fractional laser treatment followed by application of Aquaphor immediately after treatment for 24 h and TOE every 6 h for the next 6 days. Group B patients (n = 66) underwent both deep fractional and fully ablative laser resurfacing followed by application of TOE every 6 h for 7 consecutive days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in both groups showed clinical improvement and a 7.1% overall incidence of adverse effects which included milia (5.1% overall) and hyperpigmentation (3.1% overall). For milia, Group A and Group B individual adverse effect rates were 11.8% and 1.5%, respectively; for hyperpigmentation, individual rates were 0.0% and 3.1%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The elimination of petrolatum products in the post-skin care regimen has significantly reduced the incidence of post-procedure complications when compared with the use of TOE, resulting in the lowest incidence of complications in fully ablative or fractional resurfacing published thus far.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery, Tulane University Medical Center , New Orleans, LA , USA.
authors.forename: J Kevin
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Duplechain
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Katherin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000009:adverse effects*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012060:Rejuvenation; D015595:Skin Aging
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents