title: A randomized controlled pilot study on ablative fractional CO2 laser for consecutive patients presenting with various scar types.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although ablative fractional laser is the gold standard for acne scars, evidence is still lacking for other types of scars.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ablative fractional 10,600-nm CO2 laser in the treatment of various scar types.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors performed an intraindividual single-blinded randomized controlled split-lesion trial. Adult patients received 3 laser treatments at 8-week intervals for scars existing at least 1 year. Primary end points were the Physician Global Assessment (PhGA) and the assessment of adverse effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five consecutive patients with atrophic (52%) or hypertrophic (48%) scars located mainly on the body (84%) were included in the study. At 6-month follow-up of 21 patients, the PhGA showed no statistically significant difference between the treated and untreated side of the scar (p = .70). Persistent erythema, postinflammatory pigmentary changes, and scarring after ulceration (n = 3) were observed as side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this trial involving various types of scars, the efficacy of ablative fractional CO2 laser could not be confirmed. The authors presume that different types of scars have a different response to treatment. Future studies should aim to identify the type of scars that may benefit from ablative fractional laser therapy.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Dermatology, Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders (SNIP), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; †Medisch Centrum Haaglanden, Den Haag, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anne Margreet
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Drooge
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vrijman
authors.forename: Wietze
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van der Veen
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolkerstorfer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult