Moist exposed therapy: an effective and valid alternative to occlusive dressings for postlaser resurfacing wound care.

Abstract

Laser resurfacing has now become an accepted and important component of facial rejuvenation. With the introduction of computerized scanning systems, the actual laser resurfacing technique has been greatly simplified; however, the final outcome still depends to a large extent on the efficiency of the postlaser wound care in promoting wound healing and preventing early and late complications. It has been repeatedly confirmed that a moist environment is the single most important external factor affecting the rate of re-epithelialization. Occlusive moisture-retentive dressings, however, are difficult to apply and maintain in position and may as well be complicated by serious infections. Moist exposed burn ointment has been shown to maintain adequate moisture for optimal healing by frequent ointment application without the need for a secondary overlying dressing. It would be ideal for postoperative laser care. Twenty-eight consecutive patients treated with coherent ultrapulse CO2 laser in Toulouse, France, were included in the trial. Moisture-retentive ointment was applied over the treated areas every 4 to 6 hours. Healing was assessed clinically and with repeated transepidermal water loss measurements. Swab cultures were taken, and pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale. Colorimetric analysis of pictures taken was statistically compared with picture analysis of 20 patients treated earlier with an occlusive dressing. Uneventful timely healing occurred in all patients with minimal pain and discomfort. Healing with moist exposed therapy resulted in faster recovery of cutaneous erythema, as evidenced by colorometry. Moist exposed burn ointment application can be safely considered a good and valid alternative to occlusive dressings for postoperative laser care.