Moreno R A, Hebda P A, Zitelli J A, Abell E
J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 1984 Nov;10(11):863-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.1984.tb01338.x.
We set out to determine if the slow healing of CO2 laser-incised skin wounds compared with that of scalpel-incised wounds is the result of an inhibitory effect of the CO2 laser energy on the rate of epithelialization. We compared the rate of epidermal outgrowth from laser- and scalpel-cut explants in vitro. The onset of epidermal cell outgrowth (epiboly) from CO2 laser-incised skin was delayed, but there was no difference in the rate of epidermal cell outgrowth. These studies suggest that a delay in onset of epidermal migration, not a decreased rate of epidermal migration, contributes to the slower epithelialization of CO2 laser-incised skin wounds.
