title: Enlarged pores treated with a combination of Q-switched and micropulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser with and without topical carbon suspension: A simultaneous split-face trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Enlarged facial pores remain one of the major cosmetic concerns among Asian females. This study attempted to assess and compare the efficacy of a combination of the Q-switched and quasi long-pulsed (micropulsed) Nd:YAG laser to reduce the size of the enlarged pores with and without an exogenous photoenhancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In twenty five female subjects mean age 34.04 yr and skin type II-IV, a carbon lotion as a photoenhancer was applied on one side of the face (Method 1) and the other side was used as the control (Method 2). The entire face was then treated with a single pass of the 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser in the micropulsed mode, pulse fluence and width of 2.3 J/cm(2) and 300 µsec, respectively. Multiple passes were then delivered in the Q-switched mode (2.5 J/cm(2) and 5 nsec).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three weeks after the final treatment, 75% of the subjects showed improvement with method 1 whereas 67% showed improvement with method 2. No adverse side effects were reported with either method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although histological confirmation was not performed, we were able to prove both subjectively and objectively that the use of the combination of the micropulsed and Q-switched modes of the Nd:YAG laser was useful in reducing pore size, and that the photoenhancer improved the efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Hj
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Bc
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goo
authors.forename: Hj
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mr
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Ky
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chung
keywords: Nd:YAG laser; Q-switched mode; enlarged pores; exogenous photoenhancer; quasi long-pulsed mode