A randomized guinea pig study on external cell growth factors after fractional ultrapulsed CO2 laser therapy

Abstract

Background and objectives: The Fractional Ultrapulsed CO2 laser has been successfully used in treating fine wrinkles, acne scars, and photoaged skin. However, the downtime typically lasts a week or more. The purpose of this study was to observe the efficacy of external cell growth factors after Fractional Ultrapulsed CO2 laser therapy. Methods: The back skin of 20 male guinea pigs were divided into four regions after hair removal, then these four regions were irradiated with Fractional Ultrapulsed CO2 laser, respectively. These 80 incised wounds were randomly divided into three therapeutic groups and a control group. The general condition of the wound healing was observed grossly. The determination of physiological functions was done and biopsies were harvested at different time points to compare the change of skin flexibility and fibroblasts number. Results: The wound healing time of therapeutic groups shortened when compared with the control group. The flexibility of skin and the number of fibroblasts were also more than the control group. The effects of combined application of rhEGF and rb-bFGF therapeutic group were most conspicuous. Conclusions: Combined application of rhEGF with rb-bFGF could be more beneficial to the wound after Fractional Ultrapulsed CO2 laser therapy. It could accelerate the wound healing and increase the flexibility of wound skin, so the significance was important to direct clinical application.