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CO₂ laser with radiofrequency offers more effective acne scar treatment

CO₂ laser plus radiofrequency was found to be more effective in the treatment of acne scars than traditional CO₂ laser alone, according to researchers.

The treatment including radiofrequency also required fewer sessions and resulted in fewer side effects.

Ten patients (7 female, 3 male) with either clinical photoaging symptoms or acne scars were included in the study. Patients’ mean age was 39.2 years.

All patients were treated in a single session using both CO₂ laser plus radiofrequency and CO₂ laser alone. The investigators took digital photographs, dermatoscopy and in vivo reflective confocal microscopy before and immediately after treatment, and at 1 week and 3 months after treatment.

By 3-month follow-up, clinical improvement was seen in patients with boxcar and rolling acne scars, according to the researchers. In patients treated with CO₂ laser plus radiofrequency, 50% categorized their results as excellent, 50% were categorized as good, and none were considered sufficient. In those treated with CO₂ laser alone, results were classified as excellent in 30% of cases, good in 40% and sufficient in 30%.