Laser resurfacing clears photodamage, AKs

A fractional resurfacing technique that uses a 1927 nm nonablative thulium laser reduces the number of facial actinic keratosis and provides noticeable clearance of photodamage, results of a recent study indicate.

Investigators with the Laser & Skin Surgery Center, New York, conducted a six-month prospective study of 24 patients with photodamage and actinic keratoses (AK) on the face, according to the study abstract. The patients were given up to four treatments at two- and four-week intervals.

At one month after the final treatment, AK reduction in the average number of facial AK was 91.3 percent and the effect was sustained at three and six months. At six months, a marked improvement in overall photodamage was reported.

The study was published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.