TY - JOUR
T1 - Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing for atrophic acne scars
T2 - a randomized controlled trial with blinded response evaluation
AU - Hedelund, Lene
AU - Haak, Christina S
AU - Togsverd-Bo, Katrine
AU - Bogh, Morten K
AU - Bjerring, Peter
AU - Haedersdal, Merete
N1 - Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2012/8
Y1 - 2012/8
N2 - Background The treatment of acne scars with fractional CO 2 lasers is gaining increasing impact, but has so far not been compared side-by-side to untreated control skin. Objective In a randomized controlled study to examine efficacy and adverse effects of fractional CO 2 laser resurfacing for atrophic acne scars compared to no treatment. Methods Patients (n = 13) with atrophic acne scars in two intra-individual areas of similar sizes and appearances were randomized to (i) three monthly fractional CO 2 laser treatments (MedArt 610; 12-14 W, 48-56 mJ/pulse, 13% density) and (ii) no treatment. Blinded on-site evaluations were performed by three physicians on 10-point scales. Endpoints were change in scar texture and atrophy, adverse effects, and patient satisfaction. Results Preoperatively, acne scars appeared with moderate to severe uneven texture (6.15 ± 1.23) and atrophy (5.72 ± 1.45) in both interventional and non-interventional control sites, P = 1. Postoperatively, lower scores of scar texture and atrophy were obtained at 1 month (scar texture 4.31 ± 1.33, P < 0.0001; atrophy 4.08 ± 1.38, P < 0.0001), at 3 months (scar texture 4.26 ± 1.97, P < 0.0001; atrophy 3.97 ± 2.08, P < 0.0001), and at 6 months (scar texture 3.89 ± 1.7, P < 0.0001; atrophy 3.56 ± 1.76, P < 0.0001). Patients were satisfied with treatments and evaluated scar texture to be mild or moderately improved. Adverse effects were minor. Conclusions In this single-blinded randomized controlled trial we demonstrated that moderate to severe atrophic acne scars can be safely improved by ablative fractional CO 2 laser resurfacing. The use of higher energy levels might have improved the results and possibly also induced significant adverse effects.
AB - Background The treatment of acne scars with fractional CO 2 lasers is gaining increasing impact, but has so far not been compared side-by-side to untreated control skin. Objective In a randomized controlled study to examine efficacy and adverse effects of fractional CO 2 laser resurfacing for atrophic acne scars compared to no treatment. Methods Patients (n = 13) with atrophic acne scars in two intra-individual areas of similar sizes and appearances were randomized to (i) three monthly fractional CO 2 laser treatments (MedArt 610; 12-14 W, 48-56 mJ/pulse, 13% density) and (ii) no treatment. Blinded on-site evaluations were performed by three physicians on 10-point scales. Endpoints were change in scar texture and atrophy, adverse effects, and patient satisfaction. Results Preoperatively, acne scars appeared with moderate to severe uneven texture (6.15 ± 1.23) and atrophy (5.72 ± 1.45) in both interventional and non-interventional control sites, P = 1. Postoperatively, lower scores of scar texture and atrophy were obtained at 1 month (scar texture 4.31 ± 1.33, P < 0.0001; atrophy 4.08 ± 1.38, P < 0.0001), at 3 months (scar texture 4.26 ± 1.97, P < 0.0001; atrophy 3.97 ± 2.08, P < 0.0001), and at 6 months (scar texture 3.89 ± 1.7, P < 0.0001; atrophy 3.56 ± 1.76, P < 0.0001). Patients were satisfied with treatments and evaluated scar texture to be mild or moderately improved. Adverse effects were minor. Conclusions In this single-blinded randomized controlled trial we demonstrated that moderate to severe atrophic acne scars can be safely improved by ablative fractional CO 2 laser resurfacing. The use of higher energy levels might have improved the results and possibly also induced significant adverse effects.
U2 - 10.1002/lsm.22048
DO - 10.1002/lsm.22048
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 22766970
SN - 0196-8092
VL - 44
SP - 447
EP - 452
JO - Lasers in Surgery and Medicine
JF - Lasers in Surgery and Medicine
IS - 6
ER -