title: Efficacy and safety of 1550-nm fractional laser in the treatment of acne scars in Chinese patients: A split-face comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of 1550-nm fractional Er:Glass laser in treating atrophic acne scar.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty Chinese patients aged 18-65 with atrophic acne scars on both cheeks received a split-face treatment, one side with four sessions of treatment with fractional 1550-nm Er:Glass laser at 20-day interval and the other with topical asiaticoside cream application three times daily as control. Clinical response and side effects were evaluated by a dermatologist three weeks after each treatment and again 12 weeks after the last laser treatment. In addition, self-evaluation of satisfaction by the patients was done at the end of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study found that mean scores decrease after treatment was 5.65 ± 4.34 for the treated side and 1.23 ± 3.41 for the control side. The improvement in acne scars after the fractional Er:Glass laser 1550-nm treatment was more significant than the control side (p = 0.0001). The side effects were mainly local skin irritation and erythema, which disappeared within one week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The research results show that the fractional 1550-nm Er:Glass laser is an effective and safe treatment device for atrophic acne scars.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Qianli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Suizhu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 1550 nm; atrophic acne scars; non-ablative fractional laser