Post-laser hypersensitivity and the atopic patient

Laser resurfacing has become an extremely popular modality in the treatment of the aging face. Reported complications associated with carbon dioxide l aser resurfacing are on the increase. One such complication involves the oc currence of significant hypersensitivity in laser and non-laser-treated are as, often occurring for weeks or months after the original treatment and ne cessitating topical or systemic steroid therapy. In an effort to identify p atients at risk, those with significant hypersensitivity reactions were int erviewed retrospectively. Questions regarding their background atopic chara cteristics were posed. Their responses to certain questions were then compa red with those of a control group of 50 patients from the same pool who suf fered no ill effects after laser therapy. A total of 151 patients were incl uded in the study (pool). Of these, 14 patients (9.3 percent) suffered sign ificant hypersensitivity. Detailed history in these patients revealed possi ble prior "allergic sensitivity" in 78.6 percent of patients. In contrast, only 30 percent of 50 nonsymptomatic laser-treated patients admitted to any positive allergic tendencies. It is likely that carbon dioxide laser resur facing may trigger a sensitivity reaction in susceptible individuals.