Ablative Fractional Erbium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser with Coagulation Mode for the Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scars in Asian Skin

BACKGROUND The introduction of fractional photothermolysis (FP) for the treatment of atrophic acne scars has been proven to provide satisfactory results. For severe atrophic acne scarring, nonablative FP achieves fair improvement and takes multiple treatment sessions. Ablative fractional resurfacing provides an alternative modality with greater satisfaction. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the ablative fractional 2,940-nm erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser with coagulation mode for the treatment of atrophic facial acne scars in Asian skin. METHODS Thirty-four patients aged 19 to 44 (mean 34.2) with Fitzpatrick skin types III and IV, received one ablative fractional 2,940-nm Er:YAG laser treatment with an adjustable coagulation mode and were followed for 3 months. Physician evaluation and patient satisfaction were graded on a 4-point scale. Side effects were recorded at each follow-up visit. RESULTS Almost three-quarters of the patients rated their satisfaction as good to excellent (score of 3 or 4). All patients experienced short downtime, and the incidence of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation was low (3.0%). CONCLUSIONS The ablative fractional Er: YAG laser with coagulation mode is recommended for the treatment of moderate to severe atrophic acne scars, with acceptable downtime and high satisfaction in Asian patients.