RESUMO
Background: Acne scarring remains a significant problem. Laser therapy has produced varying results with deeper ablative therapies occasionally associated with side effects including delayed healing, infection, scarring, erythema, acne, milia, edema and dyspigmentation. Objective: Can adjuvant topical therapy impact the healing process and outcome of patients treated with fractional laser for acne scarring? Methods and Materials: Ten patients were randomized to receive either Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology®- RSN or a bland moisturizer. Patients underwent two laser procedures one month apart with Hybrid Fractional Laser. The topical was applied twice daily for 2 weeks prior to the first laser procedure, and through completion of the study. Seven study visits occurred over a 90-day period. Measurements were conducted in lesional and non-lesional areas - transepidermal water loss (TEWL), erythema, photography, Goodman and Baron qualitative scale, Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale and patient questionnaires - to assess functional recovery and aesthetic outcomes in the scarred areas. One patient from each cohort consented to biopsy before the procedures and 90 days after the first procedure. Results: Reduced TEWL scores in the RSN group were evident at all time points with statistically significant reductions occurring 4 days after first and second procedures indicating more efficient fluid conservation at a critical point in the healing trajectory. Erythema index demonstrated a consistent decrease in the RSN cohort over the control from day 4 through day 90 on lesional and non-lesional skin. Acne scar assessment scores improved in the RSN cohort compared with the control at all time points. Biopsy results showed early elastin regeneration in the RSN biopsy with controlled non-hypertrophic collagen formation evident. Conclusion: The use of RSN pre- and post- laser resurfacing significantly decreased postprocedural TEWL and erythema, and increased aesthetic improvement in acne scars and patient satisfaction, when compared with bland moisturizer.
RESUMO
Objective: Noninvasive fat reduction has become increasingly popular. This study evaluated the outcomes of multiple treatments with a nonthermal focused ultrasound device for the noninvasive removal of excess abdominal fat. Design: Participants underwent a total of three pulsed, focused ultrasound treatments spaced two weeks apart. Setting: This study took place in an outpatient dermatology office in a suburb of a major city. Participants: Ten healthy female subjects between 18 and 60 years of age with an abdominal thickness of at least 0.6cm and body mass index between 22 and 30kg/m2 were included. Measurements: Fat layer thickness was measured by ultrasound imaging and skin caliper and was compared with baseline at the four-, eight-, and 12-week follow-up visits after the final treatment session. Results: The study subjects underwent a total of 30 treatment sessions. Ultrasound imaging of the targeted fat layer decreased significantly by 13, 16, and 13 percent at the four-, eight-, and 12-week follow-up time points, respectively, while measurements of the fat layer as performed by skin caliper decreased by 12, 10, and 13 percent, respectively. All subjects noted improvement, while investigators noted significant improvement and expressed high satisfaction from the ultrasound treatment outcomes at the final visit. Treatments were well tolerated and no adverse events were recorded during the study period. Conclusion: Nonthermal pulsed focused ultrasound appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for the noninvasive removal of unwanted abdominal fat deposits. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02700152.
