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Fractionated carbon dioxide laser, poly-L-lactic acid improve atrophic scars

The combined use of ablative fractional CO₂ laser and poly-_L-lactic acid to treat atrophic scars helped upregulate collagen synthesis to improve appearance of the scars, according to a study.

In an uncontrolled, prospective study, 19 patients with atrophic scars caused by surgery, trauma or acne were treated with an ablative fractional CO₂ laser followed by the application of topical poly-_L-lactic acid to the treated surface. On average, each patient required one treatment and underwent follow-up at months 1 and 3.

The patients were instructed to apply moisturizer three times per day and physical UVA/UVB sunscreen to avoid sun exposure.

Using the Modified Manchester Scar Scale, four blinded dermatologists evaluated 20 photographs taken at baseline and 3 months after the combined treatment was administered. The dermatologists evaluated overall improvement, improvement in scar atrophy, improvement in scar color/dyschromia mismatch and improvement in scar contour.

All four of the dermatologists were able to correctly identify the “before” and “after” photos in 76 of 80 photos reviewed, according to the researchers. In the remaining four photos, three of the four observers were correct.

The dermatologists were in agreement that 95% of scars had improved by the 3-month follow-up, according to the researchers. Each of the criteria evaluated demonstrated an average improvement of 33%.

Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.