Current Peer Reviewed Articles

Scars result from a chaotic wound healing response leaving behind fibrotic tissue due to irregular collagen formation. There are different types of scar including atrophic, hypertrophic, contracture and keloid scars. Available scar revision therapies depend on the type of scar, and range from topical creams for mild scarring, to grafting in the case of large, traumatic scars. Laser scar revision is an effective method for treating a wide range of scars that improves skin texture and pigment as well as functional aspects.

For acne and some surgical scars (see also Acne Scars Treatment), fractional skin resurfacing can effectively treat textural and pigment concerns. IPL can also be used to decrease pigmentation and vascular effects. Scars caused by burns and other traumatic injuries are more complicated in nature and can negatively affect the quality of life due to disfigurement, pain, bleeding, pruritis (itching) and restricted range of motion. Fractional ablative laser resurfacing has been proven to effectively treat such scars and provide consistent and significant functional improvement as well as measurable cosmetic benefits.

Ablative lasers generate beams of coherent light that are absorbed by the body’s tissue as energy. The energy is delivered through a narrow range of wavelengths, and in the target area, the energy causes temperature elevation which results in tissue evaporation or ablation. Ablative lasers effectively treat a broad range of skin conditions by removing all or part of the skin. The body’s natural healing processes then replace the damaged skin with new and healthy tissue. Although several types of ablative lasers exist, differing mainly by wavelength, CO2 lasers have long been considered the industry’s ‘Gold Standard’ for ablation, delivering an exceptional ratio between ablation and coagulation (heating tissue without evaporating it).