Scar revision using laser - review of the literature and an appraisal

A variety of scars - erythematous, pigmented, atrophic, and hypertrophic - may occur as a result of trauma, surgery, burns, and skin disease such as a cne. Surgery with other adjunctive methods including radiotherapy, intrales ional steroid, and pressure therapy have shown variable results. Laser scar revision has been used since the early 1980s, The continuous wave lasers i ncluding continuous wave carbon dioxide, argon and the Nd: YAG laser achiev e some improvement, but their use is limited by inherent problems of contin uous mode lasers. Pulsed lasers have for scar revision probably due to thei r selective photothermolysis. The pulsed dye laser has been successfully us ed in erythematous and hypertrophic scars. The pigment-specific lasers have shown a good improvement for pigmented scars. The high-energy pulsed carbo n dioxide laser has been used for distensible facial scarring. The erbium:Y AG laser may have advantages because of reduced thermal damage to surroundi ng tissue and low risk of pigmentary change. The selection of appropriate l asers alone or in combination mag be of value for scar revision.