Effects of Ablative 10,600-nm Carbon Dioxide Fractional Laser Therapy on Suppurative Diseases of the Skin: A Case Series of 12 Patients

Background and Objectives: We have used an ablative 10,600-nm carbon dioxide fractional laser system (CO2 FS) for suppurative diseases in order to attempt improvement. The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the effect of CO2 FS on the course of inflammatory reactions in suppurative diseases. Materials and Methods: We reviewed a total of 12 Korean patients with suppurative diseases of the skin who had a history of treatment failure with several therapeutic modalities as well as active and multiple inflammatory lesions at the time of CO2 FS treatment. Results: Improvement scores considering the number of suppurative lesions revealed that 3 of the 12 patients demonstrated clinical improvement of grade 4. Seven had clinical improvement of grade 3 and two showed improvement of grade 2. Improvement scores in severity were also evaluated; 2 of the 12 patients showed clinical improvement of grade 4. Six demonstrated clinical improvement of grade 3 and four had clinical improvement of grade 2. No patient showed a worsening of suppurative lesions. Conclusion: Our observations demonstrated that the use of CO2 FS did not make active suppurative lesions worse, and might have a therapeutic effect on suppurative diseases and their related scars. Lasers Surg. Med. 41:550-554, 2009. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.