A systematic review of comparative studies of CO and erbium:YAG lasers in resurfacing facial rhytides (wrinkles).

BACKGROUND

Laser resurfacing is used to minimize wrinkles, solar scars and sequelae of acne.

OBJECTIVE

Purpose of the systematic review was to compare resurfacing outcomes of CO laser and erbium: yttrium aluminium garnet (erb:YAG) laser therapies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medline, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and Google Scholar databases were searched until 9 April 2015 using the following terms: laser, carbon dioxide/CO, facial wrinkles, rhytides and erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet/erbium:YAG/Er:YAG. Two-armed controlled split faced studies that compared CO laser and erbium:YAG laser in patients with mild-to-moderate facial wrinkles or rhytides were included.

RESULTS

The pooled data in this study and findings of other studies support the greater efficacy with the CO laser in improving facial wrinkles, but the erb:YAG laser was associated with a better complication profile compared with the CO laser. Except one case of hypopigmentation, other complications (i.e., erythema, hyperpigmentation and crusting) and their rates were reported by studies examining both lasers.

CONCLUSION

In general, the CO laser appeared to be more efficacious then the erb:YAG laser in treating facial wrinkles. Both lasers treatments were well tolerated.