Fractional CO2 Resurfacing: Does The Emperor Have Any Clothes?

In an article published in the October 2010 issue of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, the authors examined the results of fractional ablative CO2 resurfacing in 9 Chinese patients. The patients were being treated for skin rejuvenation and acne scars. Overall, the vast majority of the patients were pleased with their results, and there was mild to moderate improvement. However, there were significant problems with post treatment increase in skin color, and the authors raise the question of whether the results were enough to justify the treatment.

Treating Your Acne with Home Devices

Acne has been the bane of teenagers and adults as well. It has been estimated that 85% of people have acne at some time during their lives. Throughout the years the primary treatments for acne have been oral medications including antibiotics, Accutane and others. Topical medications including topical antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide and retinoids have also played a role.

Various devices have been used, over the years, to further improve the results of treatment, but these devices have never been first line treatments for acne. Ultraviolet light and x-ray were effective in the past, but we now understand that their risks exceed their benefits. Currently certain lasers and light systems, sometimes in conjunction with chemicals, are used as part of an acne treatment regimen.

Fraxel re:pair (CO2)

This past weekend I went to a Fraxel re:pair seminar at Reliant Technologies. The re:pair is a CO2 laser that uses Reliant's patented scanning technology to lay down a precise pattern of laser  pulses on the skin. There us no doubt, in my view, that Fraxel has the most sophisticated technology in the field. The scanner is fast and precise, and the relatively high power of the laser allows deeper penetration than competing lasers.