TITLE:
Periorbital Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation after Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing in Asians
AUTHORS:
Randal Tanh Hoang Pham, Ingerlisa Mattoch, Sterling S. Baker
KEYWORDS:
Laser, CO2 Laser, CO2 Laser Resurfacing, Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing, PIH, Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation, Asian, Face, Eyelid, Pigment, Wrinkles, Rhytid
JOURNAL NAME:
Modern Plastic Surgery,
Vol.5 No.2,
February
9,
2015
ABSTRACT: Background: Most data
on laser resurfacing have come from studies of people with Fitzpatrick skin types 1 - 3; however, the world’s population
is comprised mostly of Fitzpatrick skin types 4 - 6, which are more
susceptible to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Objective: For the
purpose of expanding the expertise of plastic surgeons treating patients with
darker skin types, this study examined the incidence of PIH in Asians who
underwent laser resurfacing, including a histologic arm on fractional ablative
resurfacing. Methods & Materials: The clinical study included six subjects
of Vietnamese origin who underwent single-depth fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing. The histologic study involved a seventh subject. The MiXto
SX® laser with a new scanning handpiece was
used, along with magnifying loupes to assess ablative depth after each of three
laser passes performed. Photographs were taken at various postoperative
intervals. Results: All six clinical subjects showed cosmetic improvement in
skin texture and tone with no post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. In the
histologic study, H&E stained sections revealed uniform diathermy. Conclusion:
It is possible to significantly reduce PIH in darker skinned subjects through
use of a new scanning handpiece and a technique using loupes to assess the
depth of ablative resurfacing. The histologic study confirms these findings.