Laser technologies for post-acne scar correction

Background. Prevention and treatment of post-acne scars is still an urgent task. The “gold" standard in scar correction is the ablative method using a CO2 laser. Dermabrasion with an erbium laser is less traumatic ablative method due to its high affinity to water molecules. However, in order to achieve an effect comparable to a CO2 laser, several procedures are required. Objective. Comparison of the effectiveness of a CO2 laser and an erbium laser in the treatment of post-acne scars. Methods. The study involved 84 patients with atrophic and hypertrophic post-acne scars. Patients were divided into groups depending on the type of cicatricial deformities (atrophic/hypertrophic) and the correction method (CO2/ erbium laser). Results. Based on the analysis of the values of the Manchester Scar Scale, a significant improvement of most parameters was revealed when applying laser technologies for the correction of both atrophic and hypertrophic post-acne scars. However, a significantly more pronounced dynamics in such parameters as color, texture, relief, density was obtained when using an erbium laser. Changes in the tissue displacement parameter were not observed, because the initial values of this parameter were within the normal limits. Conclusion. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the use of an erbium laser in the treatment of post-acne is more effective than a CO2 laser.

atrophic post-acne scars, hypertrophic post-acne scars, fractional photothermolysis, CO2 laser, erbium laser