The development of fractional photothermolysis is a milestone in the history of laser technology and cutaneous resurfacing. Based on the concept that skin is treated in a fractional manner, where narrow cylinders of tissue are thermally heated and normal adjacent skin is left unaffected, the fractional devices have shown effectiveness in treating a variety of conditions. Since its development, ...

Ablative laser resurfacing is an effective treatment for atrophic acne scars. However, it often induces complications such as edema, prolonged erythema, scarring and hyperpigmentation. Therefore, a new concept of laser treatment called fractional photothermolysis has been designed to create microscopic thermal wounds to achieve skin rejuvenation treatment of atrophic acne scars. This study was ...

BACKGROUND Ablative skin resurfacing with carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and erbium:YAG lasers is still considered the gold standard for treating rhytides, photodamage, and acne scars. However, the prolonged downtime and undesired concomitant effects that are involved have sent dermatologists looking for less invasive nonablative laser techniques to rejuvenate skin. OBJECTIVE To combine cold-air cool...

BACKGROUND The most common side effects of fractional laser skin treatment are erythema and edema. Low-level light therapy and light-emitting diode (LED) devices have been used to stimulate fibroblast activity and hasten wound healing. OBJECTIVE To determine whether LED treatment immediately after fractional laser skin resurfacing affects the severity and duration of postoperative eythema. ...

CONTEXT Rapid stretching of the skin over the weak connective tissue leads to development of striae distensae. Recently, researchers have shown special interest towards use of fractional photothermolysis in treatment of striae and several studies have shown its usefulness. Our aim was to assess the efficacy of Fractional CO2 laser in treatment of striae alba. MATERIALS AND METHODS A randomize...

BACKGROUND Multiple modalities have been described for skin rejuvenation, including ablative and nonablative therapies. Because of the prolonged recovery period associated with ablative procedures that injure the epidermis, nonablative skin treatments have grown increasingly popular. Various laser- and light-based systems have been designed or applied for promoting skin remodeling without damag...

BACKGROUND Nonablative laser surgery has been proven to improve early photodamaged skin and acne scars. These techniques include treatments with lasers, light sources, and/or radiofrequency devices. OBJECTIVES To review the history of nonablative technology and its applicability to darker skin types and to provide an objective look at the various published studies documenting the efficacy of ...

BACKGROUND Transepidermal drug delivery (TED) is a new potential method in dermatology. Permeability alterations induced by ablative fractional resurfacing have been described with the aim to increasing the delivery of different substances into the skin. OBJECTIVE To evaluate clinical response and side effects of TED in areata alopecia (AA) treatment using ablative fractional methods associat...

BACKGROUND Melasma is a common pigmentary disorder that remains resistant to available therapies. Facial resurfacing with the pulsed CO2 laser has been reported successful but requires significant downtime, and there is a risk of adverse sequelae. OBJECTIVE To determine if melasma will respond to a new treatment paradigm, fractional resurfacing. METHODS Ten female patients (Fitzpatrick skin...