EFFECTIVENESS OF CARBON DIOXIDE LASER IN POST ACNE SCARING PROSPECTIVE INTERVENTIONAL STUDY FROM KHYBER PUKHTUNKHWA

ABSTRACT
Background: Post acne scars is a distressing condition for patients. Lasers have been used with variable degree of
success but studies regarding their efficacy and safety are very few in local population.
Objectives; To determine the effectiveness of carbon dioxide (CO2) fractional laser in the treatment of post acne scars
in the local population.
Patients and methods: Forty patients with mild to moderate atrophic acne scars were registered and subjected to monthly
fractional CO2 laser resurfacing for four sessions and final evaluation was done three months after the last treatment.
Results: In 21 grade 3 and 4 response was seen. Of these 21 responders, there were 5(12%) patients in whom >75%
improvement was seen in scars and skin texture while in 17(43%) patients, the improvement was in the range of 51-
75%. While 6(15%) patients failed to demonstrate any significant response to treatment with <25% improvement on
the quartile scale.
Conclusion: Carbon dioxide Fractional laser demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of post acne scars particularly
the rolling scars.
Key Words: Acne scars, fractional carbon dioxide laser, Post acne scars.