Clinical Trial of Dual Treatment with an Ablative Fractional Laser and a Nonablative Laser for the Treatment of Acne Scars in Asian Patients.
Dermatol Surg. 2009 Apr 27; Kim S, Cho KHBACKGROUND Many methods have been proposed for the treatment of acne scars, with variable cosmetic results. Nonablative skin resurfacing is one method that has been proposed. Because of a need for more noticeable clinical improvements, the ablative fractional laser was recently introduced. OBJECTIVE To reduce complications and improve the results of ablative fractional laser resurfacing by combining this treatment of acne scars with nonablative lasers. METHODS A series of 20 patients (skin phototypes IV-V) with atrophic facial acne scars were randomly divided into two groups that received three successive monthly treatments with an ablative fractional laser using high (group A) and low (group B) energy on one facial half and an ablative fractional laser with low energy plus a nonablative resurfacing laser on the other facial half. Patients were evaluated using digital photography at each treatment visit and at 3 months postoperatively. Clinical assessment scores were determined at each treatment session and follow-up visit. RESULTS Although the use of the ablative fractional laser with high energy resulted in an improvement in patients' acne scars, the combination of ablative fractional laser resurfacing and nonablative laser resurfacing yielded the best results, as assessed in photographs as well as by the overall appearance of the acne scars. With the combination method, fewer complications were observed. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.
A histopathological approach: when papulopustular lesions should be in the diagnostic criteria of Behçet's disease?
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2009 Apr 24; Kalkan G, Karadag AS, Astarcı HM, Akbay G, Ustun H, Eksioglu MAbstract Background Papulopustular lesions (PPL) are commonly seen cutaneous lesions in Behçet's disease (BD). Some authorities do not recommend using cutaneous lesions for diagnostic criteria because these lesions are confused with acne vulgaris. Objective To understand if PPL have diagnostic value in BD. Methods Biopsy was performed on papulopustular lesions of Behçet's patients for histopathological examination to compare with the control group composed of patients with acne vulgaris. Forty two patients with BD and 21 control patients with acne vulgaris were enrolled in the study. Histopathological findings were classified as leukocytoclastic vasculitis, lymphocytic vasculitis, superficial and/or deep perivascular infiltration, and folliculitis and/or perifolliculitis. Results Of the specimens from 42 Behçet's disease patients, 7 (16.7%) revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis and 3 (7.1%) had lymphocytic vasculitis, 15 (35.7%) had superficial perivascular and/or interstitial infiltration, 12 (28.6%) had superficial and deep perivascular and/or interstitial infiltration, 5 (11.9%) had folliculitis or perifolliculitis. Of the control group patients, 9 (42.9%) had folliculitis or perifolliculitis, 8 (38.1%) revealed superficial perivascular inflammation and 4 (19.0%) revealed mixed superficial and deep perivascular inflammation. Vasculitis was not encountered in any control group specimens. Vasculitis ratio was statistically higher in Behcet's disease patients (P = 0.016). Conclusions We evaluated more patients than previous related studies reported in the literature. Histopathological findings of vasculitis were encountered only in BD group. Non-vasculitis histopathological findings were also encountered in the control group patients. In conclusion, PPL can be used as a diagnostic criterion of BD subsequent to finding vasculitis in histopathological examination of the biopsy specimen of the PPL. Conflicts of interest None declared.
