Over 75% Had Diminished Scarring After Fraxel Tx

KISSIMMEE, FLA. — A novel fractional CO2 resurfacing device significantly and safely improved moderate to severe acne scarring in a recent study.

More than 75% of the patients studied sustained moderate to significant improvement in their acne scarring at 3 months following final treatment, Dr. Arisa Ortiz reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery.

The 15 patients, who were aged 21–60 years, had moderate to severe acne scars and had Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV. They underwent up to three treatments with the Fraxel re:pair 10,600-nm fractional CO2 laser system (Reliant Technologies Inc.), said Dr. Ortiz, who is with the University of California, Irvine.

Treatment parameters ranged from 20 to 70 mJ with 600–1,200 microthermal zones/cm

Patient evaluations were conducted using digital photographic assessment at 3 days, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months following treatment. Specifically, skin texture, wrinkles, pigmentation, skin laxity, scarring, and overall appearance were evaluated.

Of the 15 patients, 13 were considered to have shown improvement in the appearance of scarring, with an added benefit of improved overall appearance based on physician assessment, noted Dr. Ortiz, who reported that she received equipment and honoraria from Reliant.

Of 13 who had pigmentation, 11 were improved, and of 8 with rhytids, 6 improved.

Of eight who had only one treatment, one had no improvement, five had minor improvement, and two had moderate improvement. Of two who had two treatments, both had moderate improvement. Of five who had three treatments, one had no improvement, three had moderate improvement, and one had "very significant" improvement, she said.

Smoother skin texture was an example of minor improvement, and substantial improvement in ice pick scarring was an example of moderate improvement, Dr. Ortiz pointed out, explaining that higher fluences appeared to result in greater improvements, compared with lower fluences in patients who had the same number of treatments.

In those with the greatest improvements, three treatments at fluences of 40–70 mJ were used, and those patients had the added benefit of improvements in rhytids as well as in acne scarring, Dr. Ortiz said.

All of the patients experienced transient erythema, which resolved within 3 months.

No serious patient complications occurred, and any serosanguineous oozing resolved within 48 hours of treatment.

When compared with traditional ablative resurfacing, the fractional CO2 laser treatment resulted in less patient downtime and reduced complication rates, Dr. Ortiz concluded.

KISSIMMEE, FLA. — A novel fractional CO2 resurfacing device significantly and safely improved moderate to severe acne scarring in a recent study.

More than 75% of the patients studied sustained moderate to significant improvement in their acne scarring at 3 months following final treatment, Dr. Arisa Ortiz reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery.

The 15 patients, who were aged 21–60 years, had moderate to severe acne scars and had Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV. They underwent up to three treatments with the Fraxel re:pair 10,600-nm fractional CO2 laser system (Reliant Technologies Inc.), said Dr. Ortiz, who is with the University of California, Irvine.

Treatment parameters ranged from 20 to 70 mJ with 600–1,200 microthermal zones/cm

Patient evaluations were conducted using digital photographic assessment at 3 days, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months following treatment. Specifically, skin texture, wrinkles, pigmentation, skin laxity, scarring, and overall appearance were evaluated.

Of the 15 patients, 13 were considered to have shown improvement in the appearance of scarring, with an added benefit of improved overall appearance based on physician assessment, noted Dr. Ortiz, who reported that she received equipment and honoraria from Reliant.

Of 13 who had pigmentation, 11 were improved, and of 8 with rhytids, 6 improved.

Of eight who had only one treatment, one had no improvement, five had minor improvement, and two had moderate improvement. Of two who had two treatments, both had moderate improvement. Of five who had three treatments, one had no improvement, three had moderate improvement, and one had "very significant" improvement, she said.

Smoother skin texture was an example of minor improvement, and substantial improvement in ice pick scarring was an example of moderate improvement, Dr. Ortiz pointed out, explaining that higher fluences appeared to result in greater improvements, compared with lower fluences in patients who had the same number of treatments.

In those with the greatest improvements, three treatments at fluences of 40–70 mJ were used, and those patients had the added benefit of improvements in rhytids as well as in acne scarring, Dr. Ortiz said.

All of the patients experienced transient erythema, which resolved within 3 months.

No serious patient complications occurred, and any serosanguineous oozing resolved within 48 hours of treatment.

When compared with traditional ablative resurfacing, the fractional CO2 laser treatment resulted in less patient downtime and reduced complication rates, Dr. Ortiz concluded.

KISSIMMEE, FLA. — A novel fractional CO2 resurfacing device significantly and safely improved moderate to severe acne scarring in a recent study.

More than 75% of the patients studied sustained moderate to significant improvement in their acne scarring at 3 months following final treatment, Dr. Arisa Ortiz reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery.

The 15 patients, who were aged 21–60 years, had moderate to severe acne scars and had Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV. They underwent up to three treatments with the Fraxel re:pair 10,600-nm fractional CO2 laser system (Reliant Technologies Inc.), said Dr. Ortiz, who is with the University of California, Irvine.

Treatment parameters ranged from 20 to 70 mJ with 600–1,200 microthermal zones/cm

Patient evaluations were conducted using digital photographic assessment at 3 days, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months following treatment. Specifically, skin texture, wrinkles, pigmentation, skin laxity, scarring, and overall appearance were evaluated.

Of the 15 patients, 13 were considered to have shown improvement in the appearance of scarring, with an added benefit of improved overall appearance based on physician assessment, noted Dr. Ortiz, who reported that she received equipment and honoraria from Reliant.

Of 13 who had pigmentation, 11 were improved, and of 8 with rhytids, 6 improved.

Of eight who had only one treatment, one had no improvement, five had minor improvement, and two had moderate improvement. Of two who had two treatments, both had moderate improvement. Of five who had three treatments, one had no improvement, three had moderate improvement, and one had "very significant" improvement, she said.

Smoother skin texture was an example of minor improvement, and substantial improvement in ice pick scarring was an example of moderate improvement, Dr. Ortiz pointed out, explaining that higher fluences appeared to result in greater improvements, compared with lower fluences in patients who had the same number of treatments.

In those with the greatest improvements, three treatments at fluences of 40–70 mJ were used, and those patients had the added benefit of improvements in rhytids as well as in acne scarring, Dr. Ortiz said.

All of the patients experienced transient erythema, which resolved within 3 months.

No serious patient complications occurred, and any serosanguineous oozing resolved within 48 hours of treatment.

When compared with traditional ablative resurfacing, the fractional CO2 laser treatment resulted in less patient downtime and reduced complication rates, Dr. Ortiz concluded.