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BACKGROUND: Although unparalleled in its efficacy, carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing has a high risk:benefit ratio. A modified device uses a novel handpiece and software to deliver nonsequential fractional ablative CO2 laser exposures. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of this fractional ablative, scanned, nonsequential CO2 laser in the treatment of photo-damaged skin and to evaluate histologic and ultrastructural changes after the treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten subjects with Fitzpatrick skin types I to III with photo-damaged facial skin underwent a single CO2 ablative laser treatment using a scanning handpiece in a nonsequential fractional mode. Clinical improvement and histologic and ultrastructrural changes were assessed. RESULTS: All subjects completed the study with no serious or long-term complications. Blinded evaluator and subject assessment documented improvement in cutaneous photoaging. Light microscopy revealed changes consistent with a wound repair mechanism, and electron microscopy confirmed evidence of new collagen deposition. CONCLUSION: Nonsequential scanned fractional CO2 laser resurfacing can lead to improvement in photo-damaged skin, accompanied by histologic and ultrastructural evidence of wound repair and subsequent new collagen formation.
Berlin et al. (Wed,) studied this question.