Non-Ablative 1550 nm Erbium-Glass and Ablative 10,600 nm Carbon Dioxide Fractional Lasers for Various Types of Scars in Asian People: Evaluation of 100 Patients

Objective: We compared the efficacy and safety of treatments with photothermolysis systems (FPS) and carbon dioxide fractional laser system (CO2 FS) for various types of scars in Asians. Background data: Concerns regarding the cosmetic outcomes of scar treatment are increasing, and non-ablative 1550nm erbium-glass FPS and 10,600nm CO2 FS have been effectively used to improve the appearance of various types of scars. Methods: One hundred patients with various types of scars were enrolled. The laser devices were chosen individually, based on the characteristics of the scars. We used a quintile grading scale for evaluations. Results: At 3 months after treatment, the mean grade of improvement based on clinical assessment was 2.64 +/- 0.76 for FPS, 2.60 +/- 0.68 for CO2 FS, and 2.94 +/- 0.83 for combination therapy (p=0.249). The mean grade of improvement was higher in patients who received treatment within 3 years of scar development (2.84 +/- 0.69) than in patients who received treatment >3 years after scar development (2.51 +/- 0.82; p=0.042). Conclusions: FPS and CO2 FS were both effective and safe for the treatment of scars, and can also be used together safely as a combination treatment. The proper laser device and proper treatment time should be decided considering various factors.