SLU to Test New Laser Treatment for Darker-Skinned Acne Patients

SLU to Test New Laser Treatment for Darker-Skinned Acne Patients
January 14, 2008
Donn Walker
Saint Louis University

Researchers at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine are preparing to test whether a special kind of laser can improve acne scars on people with darker skin, whose scars have typically been quite difficult to treat.

Traditionally, physicians have treated acne scars by removing the surface of the skin with powerful lasers or deep chemical peels. There can be serious side effects, though, including a lengthy healing time and the possibility of infection. For people with darker skin, including African-Americans and Hispanics, there's another significant downside: Virtually all develop skin discoloration.

In the clinical trial, dermatologists at SLU will see whether they can treat acne scars on darker-skinned patients with so-called non-ablative lasers - which bypass the surface of the skin and instead go deeper to stimulate collagen growth, which in turn helps smooth the surface of the skin. Non-ablative lasers are more gentle and have fewer risks than more powerful lasers, and they don't require a lengthy healing period.

"This is breaking new ground, in that there's been very little research published in this area," said Natalie Semchyshyn, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. "Most of the studies involving non-ablative lasers for acne scarring have been done on patients with lighter skin - yet an increasing proportion of the population in the United States has darker skin tones."

"We think it's important to find out how much non-ablative lasers can help African-Americans and Hispanics who have acne scars," Semchyshyn added.

The study, which will last 18 months, seeks to enroll people between the ages of 13 and 70 who have naturally darker skin tones and mild to severe facial acne scars that are pitted or indented, including on the cheeks.

Patients enrolled in the study cannot have taken Accutane, an oral medication used to treat severe acne, or have had other skin-resurfacing procedures, including cosmetic fillers, within the past 12 months. Nor can they be pregnant or breast-feeding.

In addition, patients cannot have a history of keloids, which are an overgrowth of tissue at the site of a healed skin injury.

At no cost, participants in the study will undergo six treatments with a non-ablative laser, spaced about a month apart. They'll also be given physical exams, sunscreen lotion and topical medications if needed.

People who meet the study criteria and who are interested in learning more should contact study coordinator Rosemary King of the SLU department of dermatology at 314-256-3436, or at kingrm@slu.edu.

Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the Mississippi River. The school educates physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health care on a local, national and international level. Research at the school seeks new cures and treatments in five key areas: cancer, liver disease, heart/lung disease, aging and brain disease, and infectious disease.

Š1818 - 2008 SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY