Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing Research Articles

Safety and efficacy of human platelet extract in skin recovery after fractional CO2 laser resurfacing of the face: A randomized, controlled, evaluator-blinded pilot study.

Fractional carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser resurfacing is used successfully for facial rejuvenation. Post procedure skincare is a variable that influences downtime caused by pain/tenderness, erythema, crusting, and bruising. The primary objective of this pilot study was to demonstrate the benefits of human platelet extract (HPE) (plated)™ CALM Serum, a new topical cosmetic product, following fractionated CO2 ablative laser resurfacing treatment to the entire face versus standard of care. In a single-center, randomized, evaluator-blinded pilot study, a total of 18 subjects were randomized into two groups, CO2 facial resurfacing followed by post-procedural standard of care (Stratacel silicone gel) or CO2 facial resurfacing with the addition of HPE renewosomes in the CALM Serum. CALM Serum demonstrated statistically significant less crusting at Day 10 compared to the control group (p = 0.0193) with less downtime in the first 14 days (p = 0.03). Subjects treated with CALM Serum had statistically significant brighter appearing skin at 14 days (p = 0.007) and more youthful looking skin on Days 14 and 30 (p = 0.003 and 0.04, respectively). This study demonstrates that Renewosome™ technology provides statistically significant post-laser clinical recovery over silicone gel for reducing crusting, and downtime. Subjects reported less diary days of symptoms of pain/tenderness, redness, crusting/flaking, bruising, and itching in the first 14 days compared to the control group. CALM also demonstrated statistically significant improvements in brighter and more youthful appearing skin. CALM is safe and well tolerated.

Human dermal fibroblast-derived extracellular matrix reduces postinflammatory hyperpigmentation after fractional carbon dioxide laser facial resurfacing in Asians.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) components promote the development of skin wounds by providing biological scaffolds and regenerative microenvironments. To evaluate the beneficial effects of human dermal fibroblast-derived ECM after fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing in Asians. In this double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled, split-face study, 15 participants with features of facial skin aging were treated with a single session of fractional carbon dioxide laser, followed by the application of either ECM (ECM group) or placebo (control group). In vivo skin parameters were measured at baseline and after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment using the Antera 3D®, Cutometer® MPA580, Dermascan®, and Tewameter®. A total of 14 participants (mean age 45.1± 9.7 years) completed the study. The change in melanin level was significantly lower in the ECM group than in the control group at week 12 (p< 0.05). Transient increase in erythema level was observed at week 4 in the control group, and the change in the erythema level was greater in the control group than in the ECM group (p= 0.014). Though the ECM group showed improvements in the dermal density, texture, transepidermal water loss, marionette lines (volume, maximum depth, and average depth), and nasolabial folds (volume, maximum depth, and length), no significant differences were found between the two groups. Treatment-related adverse events were not reported. We suggest that human dermal fibroblast-derived ECM may be used as adjunctive therapy after fractional carbon dioxide resurfacing to prevent postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in Asians.

Fractional Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scars: Our Experience at Tertiary Care Hospital of North India.

Acne is very common among adolescents, which may sometimes persist into adulthood, and acne scars continue to have a profoundly negative impact on quality of life. Of all the various modalities available, fractional lasers have shown effective results. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing in atrophic facial acne scars. The study included 104 subjects aged ≥18 years with atrophic acne scars on face of more than 6 months of duration recruited over a period of 1 year. All the patients were treated with fractional CO2 laser (600 W power and wavelength 10,600 nm). Four sessions of fractional CO2 laser resurfacing were done at 6-week intervals in each patient. We compared the improvement rate of scars after every session at 6-week interval, 2 weeks after the last session, and finally 6 months after the last laser session. The difference between the mean baseline score (3.43) and mean final score (1.83) using Goodman and Baron's qualitative scar scale was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.001). Mean improvement increased from first treatment session to the end of the treatment course from 0.56 to 1.62 indicating the role of the number of sessions in the overall improvement of acne scars. With regard to overall satisfaction, maximum number of patients were either very satisfied (55.8%) or satisfied (25%) as compared to those who were only slightly satisfied (11.5%) or completely unsatisfied (7.7%). Fractional ablative laser gives excellent results in the management of acne scars and has emerged as an appealing non-invasive option for this indication. Being a safe and effective option for atrophic acne scar treatment, it can be recommended wherever available.

Tratamiento láser de cicatrices por quemaduras

Burn scars cause high morbidity in the form of contractures, body disfigurement, and itching, and they also have a high emotional impact that adversely affects patient quality of life. Laser therapy has proven effective in this setting. It is superior to topical treatments and can be used in conjunction with surgery, helping to reduce morbidity. The use of lasers in hospital dermatology departments, however, is still limited. Carbon dioxide laser resurfacing is the most widely used modality for reducing scar thickness, improving textural abnormalities, and treating contractures. Treatments improve mobility for patients with constrictions. Pulsed dye laser treatments are particularly useful for reducing erythema in recent burn scars and preventing subsequent hypertrophy. Pigment laser treatments with short pulse durations (nanoseconds or picoseconds) can improve hyperpigmentation. In this article, we review the evidence for the use of laser therapy for burn scars and propose a treatment algorithm.

Role of fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing in post-operative transconjunctival lower eyelid blepharoplasty

Background: Transconjunctival blepharoplasty is the management of lower eyelid structures via the conjunctival approach and is usually applied to the cosmetic improvement of the lower eyelid using this approach. Aim and objectives: The study aimed to evaluate and compare the aesthetic result for residual fine wrinkles after transconjunctival lower eyelid blepharoplasty alone or combined with post-operative fractional CO2 laser. Subjects and methods: The present study was carried out on 20 patients with lower eyelid puffiness without skin redundancy just fine wrinkles who were selected from patients that were admitted to department of plastic and reconstructive surgery, AL-Azhar University hospitals. Results: Skin tightening and residual wrinkles improvement in group (A) show that 9(90.0%) were improved and 1(10.0%) were not improved while in group (B) 6(60.0%) were not improved and 4(40.0%) were worsen. There was highly statistically significant differences between groups where P&lt;0.001 with better result in group (A) in comparing with group (B). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that both lower eyelid transconjunctival blepharoplasty alone or with combination with postoperative fractional CO2 laser were safe and effective in the treatment of lower eyelid puffiness. Both of the investigated methods had comparable outcomes in terms of complications and satisfaction.

Efficacy of Fractional CO2 Laser for Improvement of Limited Mouth Opening in Systemic Sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis is a multisystem auto-inflammatory disease-causing fibrosis in the skin and internal organs. A frequent complication of systemic sclerosis is the limited mouth opening (LMO), a difficult-to-treat condition with only a few treatment options available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing in LMO associated with systemic sclerosis. This was a hospital-based prospective study in which diagnosed cases of systemic sclerosis were taken. Patients who had significant LMO and who gave informed consent were included in the study. Fractional CO2 laser treatment was performed in the perioral area. Patients were assessed at baseline, after three and six sessions, and 3 months after the last session. Assessment was done by measurement of the interincisor distance (IID) using a ruler and calculation of the mouth handicap in systemic sclerosis (MHISS) scale. Improvement in IID occurred 3 months after the first session with a mean gain of +5 mm (range 2-7). At 6 months, a mean gain of +8.5 mm (range 7-10) in IID was observed (P < 0.001). The MHISS score decreased by a mean of 14 (range 11-17) (P < 0.001). All patients showed improvement of mouth opening, which allowed the patients to have better phonation and the patients were able to have proper dental care posttreatment in the form of brushing of teeth and other dental procedures. The adverse effects noted in these patients included erythema that resolved spontaneously or after icing posttreatment. Other adverse effects noted were stinging and burning sensations that were mild and transient. Fractional CO2 laser forms a safe, effective, and well-tolerated treatment modality for improvement of LMO in systemic sclerosis. The limitations of this study were less number of patients and no long-term follow-up.

Factors affecting the outcome of fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing of various types of scars in skin of color.

Fractional laser resurfacing has been used widely in management of scars. However, data for post-traumatic and post-burn scar are limited in skin of color. This retrospective study assessed the efficacy of fractional ablative carbon dioxide laser in treatment of various types of scars other than acne scars. We also tried to find out the effect of different factors like skin type, duration, shape, location, and color of the scars on the outcome. Forty-two patients with 67scars including post-traumatic (43), post-burn (15), post-surgical (5), and post-folliculitis (5) scars treated during 2019-2020 were analyzed. The improvement was graded according to investigator and patient global assessment (IGA & PGA) through percentage improvement and quartile scale. Overall, there was 45.4% and 32.7% of improvement according to PGA and IGA, respectively. Scars with >50% improvement were recorded in 13.43% of the scars with IGA and 41.78% with PGA. Early scars, scars without hyperpigmentation, lighter skin type, post-traumatic scars had better results. There was no significant difference for other parameters like atrophic versus hypertrophic, facial versus extra facial, linear versus non-linear, or the number of sessions. Fractional carbon dioxide laser efficacious for non-acne facial and extra facial scars in the skin of color. Early intervention could yield more satisfactory results.

Snail Soothing and Repairing Cream Improves Skin Hydration after Ablative Fractional CO2 Laser: A Split-Face Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser (AFCO2) resurfacing causes transient skin barrier disruption characterized by decreased skin hydration and increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Snail Soothing and Repairing (SSR) cream, containing several glycoproteins with potential antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, may benefit skin hydration promotion after the laser treatment. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of SSR cream in skin hydration promotion after AFCO2 resurfacing. Method: The study was a double-blinded, split-face, placebo-controlled trial in participants aged 18–50 years with atrophic acne scars on both cheeks. After AFCO2 resurfacing, participants applied the product or placebo on either cheek twice daily for 14 days. Corneometry, TEWL, colorimetry, and clinical assessments (edema, erythema, crusting, pruritus, and tightness score) were evaluated at baseline, day 7, and day 14 after AFCO2 resurfacing. Results: From 22 participants in the study, the SSR cream-treated sides showed significantly higher corneometry levels than placebo-treated sides at day 14 (p = 0.033), while TEWL and colorimetry levels were not different at any study visits. Pruritus and tightness scores of the SSR side were lower, but not significant, than the placebo. Other clinical assessments (edema, erythema, and crusting) showed similar results. No significant adverse events took place. Conclusion: The SSR cream significantly improved skin hydration, highlighting skin barrier restoration after AFCO2 resurfacing, with a good safety profile.

A split-face study of moisturizer containing Centella asiatica extract after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing

A split-face study of moisturizer containing Centella asiatica extract after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing

The Rise and Fall of the Pale Puffy Lower Eyelid Pillow.

This case series demonstrates an exaggerated form of the clinical presentation of a known distressing late complication of retained hyaluronic acid filler &ndash; the &ldquo;pale puffy pillow.&rdquo; This presentation is often, unfortunately for the patient, misdiagnosed as festoons. However, the correction with liberal hyaluronidase is simple. Additionally, we have demonstrated that ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing is an excellent tool that may be utilized after hyaluronidase to correct the residual skin laxity.J Drugs Dermatol. 20(4):475-476. doi:10.36849/JDD.5509.

The Rise and Fall of the Pale Puffy Lower Eyelid Pillow

This case series demonstrates an exaggerated form of the clinical presentation of a known distressing late complication of retained hyaluronic acid filler – the “pale puffy pillow.” This presentation is often, unfortunately for the patient, misdiagnosed as festoons. However, the correction with liberal hyaluronidase is simple. Additionally, we have demonstrated that ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing is an excellent tool that may be utilized after hyaluronidase to correct the residual skin laxity.J Drugs Dermatol. 20(4):475-476. doi:10.36849/JDD.5509

Patient Satisfaction and Management of Postoperative Complications Following Ablative Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing of the Lower Eyelids.

To describe postoperative management following ablative carbon dioxide laser resurfacing of the lower eyelids. A retrospective review of patients who consecutively underwent bilateral lower eyelid ablative carbon dioxide laser resurfacing by a single experienced oculoplastic surgeon over a 6-year period was conducted. Patient satisfaction, aesthetic outcomes, and postoperative complications were evaluated as adjunctive or monotherapy. Among 424 patients included in the study, most were female (n = 356, 84.0%) and Caucasian (n = 404, 95.3%), with Fitzpatrick skin types II-III (n = 381, 89.9%). Mean age was 62.8 years (standard deviation: 9.7 years). Most (n = 324, 76.4%) underwent fractional ablative carbon dioxide laser resurfacing of the lower eyelids, whereas 91 (21.5%) received traditional laser resurfacing and 9 (2.1%) had both fractional and traditional laser resurfacing during the same session. At the time of lower eyelid laser resurfacing, most patients also underwent concurrent procedures, including upper (n = 321, 75.7%) and lower blepharoplasty (n = 348, 82.1%); a small proportion of patients (n = 39, 9.2%) did not undergo any concurrent surgical procedure. In addition to ablative laser resurfacing of the lower eyelids, 25 (5.9%) had upper eyelid laser resurfacing, 60 (14.2%) had full-face laser resurfacing, 55 (13.0%) had neck laser resurfacing, and 42 (9.9%) had additional treatment of solar lentigines or dyschromias on the face. Median follow-up duration was 3.9 months (interquartile range: 2.0-11.0 months). In the immediate postoperative period, 22 patients (5.2%) developed contact dermatitis from topical antibiotic eye drops and/or ointment prescribed postblepharoplasty. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation was observed in 40 patients (9.4%) despite topical prophylaxis; all were eventually successfully treated with a combination of topical nonprescription and prescription creams and/or oral tranexamic acid. A localized herpetic outbreak occurred in 3 (0.7%) who underwent full-face laser resurfacing and 1 (0.2%) who underwent periocular laser resurfacing only; all were successfully treated with oral antiviral therapy. Two (0.5%) developed culture-proven atypical mycobacterial infection of the resurfaced lower eyelid skin and were treated with combination antibiotic therapy for several months until resolution. A small scar was noted in 4 patients (0.9%), which resolved after local corticosteroid injections. No patient developed persistent scarring or ectropion. Patient satisfaction was overall high, with 363 (85.6%) very satisfied and 48 (11.3%) satisfied with the aesthetic outcome of lower eyelid laser resurfacing. Ablative carbon dioxide laser resurfacing of the lower eyelids can be a useful tool in the armamentarium of the experienced oculoplastic surgeon, with excellent aesthetic results, high patient satisfaction, and low complication rates as adjunctive or monotherapy. Proper and timely management of postoperative complications is essential to maximizing successful cosmetic outcomes.

Resurfacing of facial acne scars with pulsed carbon dioxide laser: a case series of 10 patients

&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;Acne vulgaris is a common skin disorder affecting 80% of people between 11-30 years of age with many experiencing some degree of scarring. Pulsed wave carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing is a recent addition in armamentarium of treatment options for acne scars. This study focuses on one of the most common type of acne complication - atrophic scars treated with pulsed wave carbon dioxide laser. To evaluate efficacy of pulsed carbon dioxide laser for treatment of mild to moderate atrophic facial acne scars. 10 subjects (6 male and 4 females, aged 22-35 years) with skin type III-V and atrophic acne scars were treated with 4 sessions of carbon dioxide non-ablative laser resurfacing on 6 weeks interval. 7 out of 10 subjects in our study perceived an excellent to good improvement with 2 patients showing fair improvement and 1 patient with no improvement. Adverse effects were limited to prolonged erythema (two patients), and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (three patient). Excellent to good clinical improvement observed in 70% of patients with acne scars. This underscore pulsed carbon dioxide laser’s effectiveness in the treatment of mild to moderate atrophic acne scars.&lt;/p&gt;

Treatment of Benign Adnexal Tumors in Birt–Hogg–Dubé Syndrome With Surgical Debulking in Combination With Fractional and Fully Ablative Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing

Treatment of Benign Adnexal Tumors in Birt–Hogg–Dubé Syndrome With Surgical Debulking in Combination With Fractional and Fully Ablative Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing

At-Home Transvaginal Device Following Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Treatment for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause.

Device-based therapeutic approaches have been developed to treat women&rsquo;s genitourinary post-menopausal symptoms. Fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing (FxCO2) has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in the treatment of GSM symptoms, however the results begin to wane by 12-months post-treatment. This study aims at assessing the application of an at-home transvaginal red and infrared light device as a maintenance treatment commencing 12 months following FxCO2 laser treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). Subjects completing 12-month follow-up after three fractional CO2 laser vulvovaginal treatments received an at-home device and monitored for GSM symptoms with long-term follow-up to 12 months (2 years post-laser). 10 post-menopausal subjects completing 12-months follow-up after three FxCO2 vulvovaginal treatments for GSM were treated with an at-home red and infrared LED device. Treatment consisted of intravaginal application three times per week, and subjects were followed to 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Subjects completed the vaginal assessment scale subject satisfaction, and QUID to assess for vulvovaginal and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) symptoms. Vulvovaginal symptoms measured by VAS were mean 89% improved at 12-month follow-up after FxCO2 and maintained at 73% improved over baseline (2 years post-laser) following an additional 12 months of at-home transvaginal light therapy (P&lt;0.05). VAS symptoms gradually increased over the 12 months maintenance period by a mean of 17% (P&lt;0.05). Mean subject satisfaction was 0 at baseline, 1.86 at 1 year following FxCO2, and 1.00 after an additional 1 year of at-home light therapy. SUI symptoms as measured by QUID were mean 81% improved at 12-month follow-up after FxCO2and maintained at 38% improved over baseline (2 years post-laser) following an additional 12-months of at-home light therapy (P&lt;0.05). SUI symptoms gradually increased by a mean of 43% over the 12-month maintenance period (P&lt;0.05). At-home transvaginal red and near infrared light therapy commencing at 12 months post-FxCO2 vulvovaginal treatment in a post-menopausal population maintained statistically significant improvements in vulvovaginal and SUI symptoms over the additional12-month period (2 years post-laser); however, a gradual return of symptoms suggests that laser re-treatment or combination withhormone therapy may be necessary to maintain optimal outcomes.J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(11):1076-1079. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.1012.

The efficacy of fractional ablative carbon dioxide laser combined with other therapies in acne scars.

Fractional ablative carbon dioxide laser resurfacing is a frontline treatment for acne scars. It creates multiple microscopic treatment zones to accelerate the collagen formation and the healing process of reepithelialization, according the principle of fractional photothermolysis. At present, the fractional CO2 laser with a wavelength of 10,600 nm is commonly used in the field of cosmetology and clinical therapies for various skin diseases, and it can effectively improve skin regeneration and scar formation. To obtain satisfactory results for patients with scars, repetitive fractional laser therapy is always required; however, this treatment could easily lead to complications such as erythema, edema, infection, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. In addition, different types of acne scars may have different responses to laser, further limiting its widespread use. In recent studies both home and abroad, a new pattern of fractional laser combined with other therapies to improve acne scar has been recommended to guarantee the safety and effective of treatment. This article reviews the recent pertinent literatures and summarized the progression of ablative fractional CO2 laser combined with other therapies on acne scar.

Simultaneous Combination Treatment Using High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound and Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing for Facial Rejuvenation

Simultaneous Combination Treatment Using High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound and Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing for Facial Rejuvenation

Effectiveness of subcision using carboxytherapy plus fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing in the treatment of atrophic acne scars: comparative split face study

Introduction: Fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing is the gold standard treatment for atrophic acne scars but when combined with subcision to the depressed scars it provides rapid improvement. Carboxytherapy is considered a tool for subcision via injecting the gas under pressure plus its well-known effect in rejuvenating scars.Aim: Main objective of the work is to evaluate the effectiveness of combined subcision using carboxytherapy plus fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing in the treatment of atrophic acne scars.Patients and method: Twenty patients with atrophic acne scars undergone three sessions of fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing for both sides of the face and subcision by CO2 gas for the right side scars only. Standardized photographs were taken before and three months after the last session and evaluated by two independent blinded dermatologists for the degree of improvement.Result: The right side of the face improved better than the left side and showed excellent improvement in 10% of cases that was statistically significant (p value=.003).Conclusion: Subcision via carboxytherapy accelerate the improvement of atrophic acne scars when combined with fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing.

Fractional Ablative Carbondioxide Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scars - A Single Centered Study

Introduction: Pulsed carbon dioxide laser devices are considered highly effective treatment options for skin resurfacing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an ablative 10,600-nm carbon dioxide fractional laser system on moderate to severe acne scarsMaterials and Methods: Forty participants (Fitzpatrick skin types III–IV) ranging from the age group of 25-45 who had moderate to severe acne scars were included in the study.CO2 Fractional laser was used, Unit: eCO2 Lutronic Korea; FDA approved, in 3 sessions at one month interval and 4th and 5th sessions at the interval of 2 months. Comparison was done on a monthly basis for the improvement of scars at one monthly interval and any other symptoms like pain, recovery time for wound healing and complications of laser like hyperpigmentation were noted by asking the patient to fill up a questionaire.Results: All the patients completed the treatment.At the end of the session participants experienced a reduction in the size of the scars. At the first laser session, they presented 10-25%, at the second session 20-45% and at the third session 30-60%. All participants felt an ascending improvement rate during and after the course of treatment. An average improvement of 71% was observed. Twelve of sixteen patients showed mild erythema which was transient and recovered at its own.Conclusions: Fractional Co2 laser ablation provides a safe and effective treatment of moderate to severe facial acne.

Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing in Combination With Potent Topical Corticosteroids for Hypertrophic Burn Scars in the Pediatric Age Group: An Open Label Study.

Lasers and potent topical corticosteroids are used as therapeutic options in hypertrophic burn scars. To assess the therapeutic effect of fractional CO2 laser resurfacing in combination with potent topical corticosteroids on hypertrophic burn scars in pediatric age group. Ten children (5-12 years) with postburn hypertrophic scars were treated with 3 to 5 sessions of fractional CO2 laser resurfacing at 1-month intervals, and triamcinolone suspension was applied immediately after each laser session. Patients were also instructed to apply clobetasol propionate gel for 1 week after each laser session. Response to treatment was assessed using Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and Physician Global Assessment (PGA). Tolerability for the procedure and adverse effects were also assessed. Laser sessions were well tolerated under the effect of topical or local anesthesia. At the time of final assessment, there was mean reduction of 4.2 (range: 2.8-7) in VSS. Reduction of VSS by ≥4 points was observed in 8 of 10 cases, whereas PGA revealed excellent response in 6 of 10 cases. No significant adverse effects were reported by any patient. Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing in combination with potent topical steroids leads to significant therapeutic benefits in children with postburn hypertrophic scars.