Lower-fluence, higher-density versus higher-fluence, lower-density treatment with a 10,600-nm carbon dioxide fractional laser system: a split-face, evaluator-blinded study.

BACKGROUND

Adequate laser settings in the treatment of scars using a carbon dioxide fractional laser system (CO(2) FS) have not been established.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy and safety of low-fluence, high-density with high-fluence, low-density treatment with CO(2) FS on acne scars and enlarged pores.

METHODS

Ten patients with mild to severe atrophic acne scars and enlarged pores were enrolled. Half of each subject's face was treated with a single session of CO(2) FS with a fluence of 70 mJ and a density of 150 spots/cm(2) ; the other half was treated with a fluence of 30 mJ and a density of 250 spots/cm(2) .

RESULTS

Follow-up results 3 months after a single low-fluence, high-density treatment with CO(2) FS showed that four of 10 participants had clinical improvement of 51% to 75% from baseline. After the high-fluence, low-density CO(2) FS treatment, five of 10 patients demonstrated marked clinical improvements of more than 76%.

CONCLUSION

Higher-energy, lower-density laser settings seem to be more effective than lower-energy, higher-density settings for acne scars and enlarged pores, although our results do not constitute a conclusive comparison of the two different modes of CO(2) FS.