Improvement of Atrophic Acne Scars with a 1,320 nm Nd

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Facial acne scarring has been treated with multiple methods with varying degrees of improvement. Although the 1,320 nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser has been widely used to improve photoaging, studies analyzing its effects on atrophic acne scarring are limited.

New insights into the management of acne: An update from the Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne Group

“…Mild overall improvement has been reported with these lasers. [213][214][215][216] A comparison of the efficacy of the 1450-nm diode laser versus the 1320-nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser for atrophic facial scars in 20 patients with mild to moderate scars suggested better clinical results with the 1450-nm laser. 213 Side effects are generally mild.…”

Comparison of a 585-nm pulsed dye laser and a 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of acne scars: A randomized split-face clinical study

“…[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] However, comparative studies of the various devices are lacking, and to date little histologic or biologic evidence has been presented concerning scar remodeling after nonablative resurfacing. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacies and safeties of a 585-nm PDL and a 1064-nm long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of atrophic facial acne scarring.…”

“…7 Although ablative lasers, such as the carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser, have been considered as ''gold'' standards for skin resurfacing, adverse effects, such as prolonged postoperative erythema, swelling, and even dyspigmentation, impede their widespread utilization, especially in patients with darker skin. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] In contrast, nonablative remodeling lasers, such as the 1320-nm or 1064-nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet lasers (Nd:YAG) [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] and diode (1450 nm) [24][25][26] lasers, and the 585-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL), 27 can also reduce acne scarring without significant downtime, but at lower efficacies. Moreover, although the recently developed technique of fractional laser skin resurfacing has been reported to allow the recontouring of scars, 28,29 the risk of hyperpigmentation in patients with darker skin types often precludes sufficient treatment 30 ; thus nonablative scar resurfacing is still becoming more popular for acne scar reduction, especially in patients with darker skin.…”

A randomized, controlled, split-face clinical trial of 1320-nm Nd:YAG laser therapy in the treatment of acne vulgaris

“…Previous work has demonstrated the clinical efficacy of infrared nonablative laser therapy in the treatment of acne scarring, and the mechanism of action is said to involve up-regulation of dermal collagen. [17][18][19][20] Infrared laser therapy would certainly be a particularly attractive option for patients with acne if treatment protocols can be developed to maintain the positive effects of the therapy on scarring while improving results with respect to active acne.…”