A systematic review of comparative studies of CO2and erbium:YAG lasers in resurfacing facial rhytides (wrinkles).
BACKGROUND
Laser resurfacing is used to minimize wrinkles, solar scars and sequelae of acne.


OBJECTIVE
Purpose of the systematic review was to compare resurfacing outcomes of CO2laser and erbium: yttrium aluminium garnet (erb:YAG) laser therapies.


METHODS
Medline, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and Google Scholar databases were searched until 9 April 2015 using the following terms: laser, carbon dioxide/CO2, facial wrinkles, rhytides and erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet/erbium:YAG/Er:YAG. Two-armed controlled split faced studies that compared CO2laser and erbium:YAG laser in patients with mild-to-moderate facial wrinkles or rhytides were included.


RESULTS
The pooled data in this study and findings of other studies support the greater efficacy with the CO2laser in improving facial wrinkles, but the erb:YAG laser was associated with a better complication profile compared with the CO2laser. Except one case of hypopigmentation, other complications (i.e., erythema, hyperpigmentation and crusting) and their rates were reported by studies examining both lasers.


CONCLUSIONS
In general, the CO2laser appeared to be more efficacious then the erb:YAG laser in treating facial wrinkles. Both lasers treatments were well tolerated.
a Department of Nursing , Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.|b School of Nursing, College of Nursing , Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.|c Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine , Chang Gung University , Taoyuan City , Taiwan.|d Cochrane Taiwan , Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.|e Evidence-Based Knowledge Translation Center, Wan Fang Medical Center , Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.
Kee-Hsin
KH
Chen
d Cochrane Taiwan , Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.|f Department of Surgery , Taipei Medical University - Shuang Ho Hospital , New Taipei City , Taiwan.|g Department of Surgery , School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.
Ka-Wai
KW
Tam
h Graduate Institute of Management of Technology , National Chiao Tung University , Hsinchu , Taiwan.
I-Fan
IF
Chen
i Institute of Management of Technology , National Chiao Tung University , Hsinchu , Taiwan.
Shihping Kevin
SK
Huang
j Department of Medical Education and Research , Wan Fang Medical Center, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.
Pei-Chuan
PC
Tzeng
k Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery , Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.|l Department of Surgery , School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University , Taiwan.
Hsian-Jenn
HJ
Wang
d Cochrane Taiwan , Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.|k Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery , Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.|l Department of Surgery , School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University , Taiwan.|m Department of Public Health , School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.
Chiehfeng Cliff
CC
Chen
D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D004871:Erbium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015595:Skin Aging; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004871:Erbium
CO2; erbium:YAG laser; rhytides; wrinkles