Selective Nonablative Treatment of Acne Scarring With 585 nm Flashlamp Pulsed Dye Laser

Abstract

background. Selective nonablative wrinkle reduction with low-fluence pulsed dye laser has been shown to provide cosmetic benefits by stimulating the production of dermal collagen. The clinical efficacy for improving the appearance of acne scarring using selective nonablative laser treatments has yet to be established. objective. To evaluate the improvement in the appearance and topography of acne scarring following application of a 585 nm pulsed dye laser with a temporal profile and pulse duration designed specifically to target healthy microvasculature in the dermis. methods. Ten patients (mean age 34.8 years) with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV and shallow to moderately deep, saucerized facial acne scars were enrolled in a prospective trial to receive a single laser treatment of both cheeks. Patients were evaluated at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days to assess the degree of clinical improvement. The evaluation process included assessment of preand posttreatment photography by two independent observers, patient assessment surveys, and surface profilometry using silicone imprints in order to quantify the degree of clinical improvement. results. All 10 patients reported visible cosmetic improvement in the treated areas while surface profilometry showed that, on average, the depth of the acne scars was reduced by 47.8%. No adverse effects of this treatment were reported. conclusion. The treatment of acne scars utilizing a 585 nm pulsed dye laser with a temporal profile and pulse duration designed specifically to target healthy microvasculature in the dermis may be a safe and effective noninvasive alternative for a natural result.

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

“…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.…”

“…[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.…”

Evaluation of Acne Scar Treatment With a 1450-nm Midinfrared Laser and 30% Trichloroacetic Acid Peels

“…[3][4][5] More recently, physicians have started to use nonablative lasers for treatment of these scars. [6][7][8][9][10] Historically, most patients will not have their scars treated. This may be owing to not wanting to deal with the associated risks of the more familiar ablative procedures.…”

“…Recently, nonablative, collagen-stimulating lasers have become available to treat acne scars. [6][7][8][9][10] Because the epidermal injury is minimized with these lasers, they do not have the associated prolonged recovery that occurs with resurfacing lasers. These nonablative lasers are designed to spare the epidermis and stimulate the dermis to produce new collagen.…”

Laser surgery: an approach to the pediatric patient

“…(Courtesy of Roy G. Geronemus, MD, Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York. )tiwavelength light [100][101][102][103]. While these systems avoid the week of healing and most of the complications associated with traditional ablative lasers, the nonablative resurfacing produces only mild clinical improvement and most of the clinical studies have followed the adult population 4.…”