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Lasers for the treatment of erythema, dyspigmentation, and decreased elasticity in macular acne scars: a systematic review

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Abstract

Scarring is one of the most esthetically challenging and psychologically burdening aspects following inflammatory acne. While “macular” disease is the scar subtype with the least complicated outcome, its phase can be regarded as the most defining in the ultimate scar appearance. Moreover, with lasers recently gaining much popularity in the scientific community for managing several dermatologic conditions, we aimed to evaluate whether they would lead to significant benefits. For this systematic review, four databases consisting of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were searched using a comprehensive string, with the data from the relevant yet eligible identified records qualitatively synthesized. After investigating the data obtained from the nine included studies, we found the utilized lasers, namely neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet, fractional carbon dioxide, pulsed dye, erbium:glass, pro-yellow, and high-power optically pumped semiconductor, to be highly effective in managing the erythematous or dyspigmented appearance with the reduced elasticity also significantly improving. Moreover, the adverse events were both bearable and minimal, and transient. However, the degree of improvement each type of scar demonstrated following laser therapy varied based on the laser used. Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet, fractional carbon dioxide, and pulsed dye are the most commonly investigated lasers for managing macular acne scars, demonstrating eye-catching capabilities in managing either erythema or dyspigmentation. However, we still recommend that further comparative interventional studies be carried out, while the intended outcomes also assessed with objective measures for further clarification.

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Data availability

The dataset supporting the conclusions of this article (i.e., data extracted from included studies) is available upon request to the corresponding author, Najmeh Ahramiyanpour.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Nastaran Sarvipour, Zahra Akbari & Mohammad Shafie’ei

  2. Gene Therapy Research Center, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Marzieh Jamali

  3. Departments of Plastic Surgery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohadese Ahmadzade

  4. Department of Dermatology, Afzalipour Hospital, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Najmeh Ahramiyanpour

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  1. Nastaran Sarvipour
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  4. Marzieh Jamali
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  5. Mohadese Ahmadzade
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  6. Najmeh Ahramiyanpour
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Contributions

All authors participated in designing the protocol. First, all authors participated in the design of the study. Z. A. and M. S. then did the literature search. Z. A. and N. S. selected the studies and extracted the relevant information, then assessed, and confirmed by the senior author, N. A. All authors then participated in synthesizing the data. M. S., Z. A., N. S., and M. J. also wrote the first draft of the paper. N. A. provided critical guidance on the analysis and overall direction of the study. All authors critically revised successive drafts of the paper and approved the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Najmeh Ahramiyanpour.

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All named authors meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship for this article, take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given their approval for this version to be published.

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Sarvipour, N., Akbari, Z., Shafie’ei, M. et al. Lasers for the treatment of erythema, dyspigmentation, and decreased elasticity in macular acne scars: a systematic review. Lasers Med Sci 37, 3321–3331 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-022-03621-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-022-03621-0

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