Peels prime darker skin types prior to laser treatment for acne scars

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Shehnaz Arsiwala, MD,of Prince Aly Khan Hospital, Mumbai, India, discussed the use of skin peels prior to laser treatment in darker skin types to lighten the pigment in scars and prepare the skin for laser treatment during a presentation at the World Congress of Dermatology.

“Managing acne scars in dark skin types 3 to 5 demands aggressive priming before optimal laser resurfacing parameters are used and intervention priming with chemical peels before lasers, [forms] a bridging link to enhance the results,” Arsiwala told Healio.com/Dermatology.

Shehnaz Arsiwala

Arsiwala’s research involved using salicylic, glycolic, retinol or combination peels as interventional priming with three to five sessions of chemical peels at 15 days intervals. The peel sessions were conducted after signs of post-acne pigmented scars were evident. Once the pigmentation in scars improved with the facial peels, the patient undergoes fractional erbium or fractional carbon dioxide lasers for three to four sessions.

“The outcome of this technique markedly improves results for acne scars,” Arsiwala reported in her research abstract.

Improved residual acne, lightened pigment in scars, improved texture and photodamage were observed after the peels, which also created “better primed skin surface,” Arsiwala reported.

“Acne scars are difficult and challenging to treat,” Arsiwala concluded. “The challenge doubles in skin of color if scars are pigmented. In addition to standard topical priming and sun protection, interventional priming with chemical peels is an added advantage before embarking on ablative fractional laser resurfacing for pigmented acne scars.”

Reference:

Arsiwala S. FC28-05: Interventional Priming With Peels Before Ablative Fractional Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scars. Presented at: 23rd World Congress of Dermatology; June 8-13, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia.

Disclosure: Arsiwala reports no relevant financial disclosures.