Improvement of Atrophic Acne Scars with a 1,320 nm Nd:YAG Laser: Retrospective Study

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Improvement of Atrophic Acne Scars with a 1,320 nm Nd:YAG Laser: Retrospective Study
September 2005
To cite this article: Bellew Supriya G. MD, Lee Catherine BS, Weiss Margaret A. MD, Weiss Robert A. MD (2005)
Improvement of Atrophic Acne Scars with a 1,320 nm Nd:YAG Laser: Retrospective Study
Dermatologic Surgery 31 (s3), 1218Ò1222.
doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31929
Blackwell Synergy

Bellew Supriya G., MD*
*Maryland Laser, Skin and Vein Institute, Hunt Valley, Maryland, Lee Catherine, BS‹
‹Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, Weiss Margaret A., MD*
*Maryland Laser, Skin and Vein Institute, Hunt Valley, Maryland·
·Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, and Weiss Robert A., MD*
*Maryland Laser, Skin and Vein Institute, Hunt Valley, Maryland·

Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Robert A. Weiss, MD, Maryland Laser, Skin and Vein Institute, 54 Scott Adam Road, Suite 301, Hunt Valley, MD 21030, or e-mail: rweiss@mdlaserskinvein.com.
TRAVEL AND LECTURING BY ROBERT WEISS WERE FUNDED IN PART BY COOLTOUCH CORPORATION. DR. WEISS IS LISTED ON A PATENT FOR POSTCOOLING ON COOLTOUCH.

Abstract

Background. Facial acne scarring has been treated with multiple methods with varying degrees of improvement. Although the 1,320 nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser has been widely used to improve photoaging, studies analyzing its effects on atrophic acne scarring are limited.

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of a dynamic cryogen-cooled 1,320 nm Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of atrophic facial acne scars in a larger cohort of patients with long-term follow-up.

Methods. Twenty-nine patients (skin phototypes IÒIV) with facial acne scarring received a mean of 5.5 (range 2Ò17) treatments with a 1,320 nm Nd:YAG laser. Objective physician assessment scores of improvement were determined by side-by-side comparison of preoperative and postoperative photographs at a range of 1 to 27 months (mean 10.4 months) postoperatively. Subjective patient self-assessment scores of improvement were also obtained.

Results. Acne scarring was significantly improved by both physician and patient assessment scores. Mean improvement was 2.8 (p < .05) on a 0- to 4-point scale by physician assessment and 5.4 (p < .05) on a 0- to 10-point scale by patient assessment. No significant complications were observed.

Conclusions. Nonablative laser skin resurfacing with a 1,320 nm Nd:YAG laser can effectively improve the appearance of facial acne scars with minimal adverse sequelae.

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