Minimally Ablative Erbium:YAG Laser Resurfacing of Facial Atrophic Acne Scars in Asian Skin: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Atrophic scars are dermal depressions caused by collagen damage most commonly occurring after inflammatory acne vulgaris. There are little published data regarding the effectiveness and safety of minimally invasive lasers in the treatment of atrophic acne scars in darker skin types. The purpose was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a low-fluence 2,940-nm erbium:YAG laser in the treatment of atrophic acne scars in Asian patients. Nine patients aged 19 to 45 years with mild to moderate atrophic facial scars and Skin Types IV and V were treated with topical anesthesia and one to two passes with an erbium:YAG laser two times at 1-month intervals. Treatment parameters were 6-mm spot size, fluence of 400 mJ, pulse duration of 300 micros, and repetition rate of 2 Hz. At 2 months after the last treatment, mild to moderate clinical improvement was noted in all patients compared to baseline. Treatment was well tolerated. Side effects consisted of posttreatment erythema, peeling, and crusting, which resolved within 1 to 2 weeks. There was no postinflammatory hyper- or hypopigmentation, blistering, or hypertrophic scarring. Low-fluence erbium:YAG facial resurfacing was effective and safe in patients with mild to moderately severe atrophic acne scarring.