Ann Dermatol.  2011 Nov;23(4):448-454.

Skin Characteristics after Fractional Photothermolysis

• Oh BH
• Hwang YJ
• Lee YW
• Choe YB
• Ahn KJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Fractional photothermolysis makes thousands of minute areas called microthermal treatment zones on the skin surface and transmits thermal injury to facilitate heat shock protein formation around the dermis. Potential side effects include acneiform eruption, herpes simplex virus outbreak, erythema, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate and compare the changes in the skin of Asian patients after two different fractional photothermolysis systems (FPS) on a split face.
METHODS
A half-split face study was performed with 10,600 nm carbon dioxide FPS on the left and 1,550 nm erbium-doped FPS on the right side of the face. Only one session of laser irradiation and several biophysical measurements were done.
RESULTS
Although both FPS proved to be effective in treating acne scar and wrinkle patients, a slightly higher satisfaction rating was seen with the 10,600 nm FPS treatment. Both types of FPS showed a significant increase in transepidermal water loss which decreased gradually after treatment and returned to pre-treatment level after 1 week. A decreased reviscometer score was sustained for a longer period in wrinkle areas treated with 10,600 nm FPS.
CONCLUSION
Even though the changes in skin varied according to different FPS wave-length, adverse outcomes, such as increased erythema and TEWL were entirely subdued within 3 months of treatment.

Keyword

Acne scar; Fractional photothermolysis; Wrinkle

MeSH Terms

Acne Vulgaris
Acneiform Eruptions
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Carbon Dioxide
Cicatrix
Dermis
Erythema
Heat-Shock Proteins
Humans
Methylmethacrylates
Polystyrenes
Simplexvirus
Skin
Water Loss, Insensible
Carbon Dioxide
Heat-Shock Proteins
Methylmethacrylates
Polystyrenes
Water Loss, Insensible

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Acne scars on the face of a representative patient showed improvement at 3 months post-treatment (A~D: baseline, E~H: 1 day after FP treatment, I~L: 1 week after FP treatment, M~P: 3 months after FP treatment, A, B, E, F, I, J, M, N: Rt. cheek, treated with 1,550 nm FPS, C, D, G, H, K, L, O, P: Lt. cheek, treated with 10,600 nm FPS). FP: fractional photothermolysis, Rt: right, Lt: left, FPS: fractional photothermolysis system.

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  Fig. 2 In acne scar patients, 10,600 nm FPS (Lt) and 1,550 nm FPS (Rt) caused different degrees of Sebum excretion rate (A), TEWL (B), melanin index (C) and erythema index (D). Error bars represent mean±standard error of the mean. *p<0.05; †p<0.01, t test. FPS: fractional photothermolysis system, Rt: right, Lt: left, TEWL: transepidermal water loss.

• 

  Fig. 3 Wrinkles on the face of a patient showed improvement at 3 months post-treatment (A~D: baseline, E~H: 1 day after FP treatment, I~L: 1 week after FP treatment, M ~P: 3 months after FP treatment, A, B, E, F, I, J, M, N: Rt. cheek, treated with 1,550 nm FPS, C, D, G, H, K, L, O, P: Lt. cheek, treated with 10,600 nm FPS). FP: fractional photothermolysis, Rt: right, Lt: left, FPS: fractional photothermolysis.

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  Fig. 4 In wrinkle patients, 10,600 nm FPS (Lt) and 1,550 nm FPS (Rt) caused different degrees of reviscometer (A), TEWL (B), melanin index (C) and erythema index (D). Error bars represent mean±standard error of the mean. *p<0.05; †p<0.01, t test. FPS: fractional photothermolysis, Rt: right, Lt: left, TEWL: transepidermal water loss.

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