A prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison of an ablative fractional 2940-nm erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser with a nonablative fractional 1550-nm erbium-doped glass laser for the treatment of photoaged Asian skin.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: As compared with ablative fractional CO2 laser, ablative fractional erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (ErYAG) laser is considered to be a more suitable treatment option for photoaged skin in Asians due to the lower incidence of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of ablative fractional ErYAG laser (ablative fractional resurfacing [AFR]) and nonablative fractional 1550-nm Erglass laser (non-AFR [NAFR]) in the treatment of photoaging. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blinded comparative study. In three sessions, at four-week intervals, 19 patients received ErYAG AFR, and 15 patients received Erglass NAFR. Pigmentation, uneven tone/erythema, wrinkles and overall features of photoaging were scored. Patient satisfaction, adverse effects and pain scores were recorded. Melanin and erythema indexes were measured. RESULTS: Reductions in pigmentation and uneven tone/erythema scores were significantly greater after ErYAG AFR, while wrinkle score reduction was significantly greater after Erglass NAFR. Physician and patient assessments for the overall features showed greater improvement in the Erglass NAFR. Treatment-related pain or adverse events were less in the ErYAG AFR. CONCLUSION: Both ErYAG AFR and Erglass NAFR are effective and safe and could be used in a complementary manner for treating photoaged Asian skin.