title: A comparison of the scar prevention effect between carbon dioxide fractional laser and pulsed dye laser in surgical scars.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of ablative lasers based on the fractional approach is a novel strategy for the treatment of postoperative and acne scars in addition to wrinkles.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the efficacy of carbon dioxide ablative fractional laser (AFL) and the pulsed dye laser (PDL) for the improvement of surgical scars.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen Korean patients with surgical scars were enrolled for this study. Half of each scar was treated with a 10,600-nm AFL and the contralateral half with the 595-nm PDL. For early intervention of the postoperative scar, the laser treatments were begun after 2 weeks from the Mohs micrographic surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both PDL and AFL produced statistically significant improvements. However, comparatively, there was no statistical difference between them. In each variable, AFL was more effective than PDL in the improvement of pliability and thickness. In contrast, PDL was superior to AFL in the improvement of vascularity and pigmentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulsed dye laser and AFL treatments for surgical scar provide significant improvement. Pulsed dye laser was more effective in color of scar compared with AFL, which showed marked improvement in the contour of scar. Overall improvement was not statistically different in the Vancouver Scar Scale.
authors.affiliation: *All the authors are affiliated with the Department of Dermatology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dai Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hwa Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Jae Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyo Hyun
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Young Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kye
authors.forename: Soo Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Seo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001808:Blood Vessels; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054025:Lasers, Dye / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects; D010858:Pigmentation; D018583:Pliability; D055815:Young Adult