title: A prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison of an ablative fractional 2940-nm erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser with a nonablative fractional 1550-nm erbium-doped glass laser for the treatment of photoaged Asian skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As compared with ablative fractional CO2 laser, ablative fractional erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser is considered to be a more suitable treatment option for photoaged skin in Asians due to the lower incidence of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy and safety of ablative fractional Er:YAG laser (ablative fractional resurfacing [AFR]) and nonablative fractional 1550-nm Er:glass laser (non-AFR [NAFR]) in the treatment of photoaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, randomized, double-blinded comparative study. In three sessions, at four-week intervals, 19 patients received Er:YAG AFR, and 15 patients received Er:glass NAFR. Pigmentation, uneven tone/erythema, wrinkles and overall features of photoaging were scored. Patient satisfaction, adverse effects and pain scores were recorded. Melanin and erythema indexes were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reductions in pigmentation and uneven tone/erythema scores were significantly greater after Er:YAG AFR, while wrinkle score reduction was significantly greater after Er:glass NAFR. Physician and patient assessments for the overall features showed greater improvement in the Er:glass NAFR. Treatment-related pain or adverse events were less in the Er:YAG AFR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both Er:YAG AFR and Er:glass NAFR are effective and safe and could be used in a complementary manner for treating photoaged Asian skin.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Rim
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Woo-Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Ye Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Woo
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: SungEun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012060:Rejuvenation; D015595:Skin Aging
keywords: Fractional ablative Er:YAG laser; fractional laser resurfacing; fractional nonablative Er:glass laser