ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Evaluation of Acne Scar Treatment
With a 1450-nm Midinfrared Laser
and 30% Trichloroacetic Acid Peels
Paul J. Carniol, MD; Jyothi Vynatheya; Eric Carniol
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of treatment of es-
tablished acne scarswith a sequential combination of treat-
ment using a 1450-nm, midinfrared, nonablative diode
laser with dynamic cooling spray and 30% trichloroace-
tic acid peels.
Methods: In this prospective study 9 patients with atro-
phic rolling, boxcar, or both types of scars received 4
monthly treatments using a 1450-nm,midinfrared, nona-
blative, diode laser with dynamic cooling spray fol-
lowed by 2 bimonthly treatments with 30% trichloro-
acetic acid peels. Blinded evaluators and the patients rated
the results.
Results:The group of patients in this study had a greater
improvement in their acne scars than has been reported
for nonablative laser treatments by other authors. Com-
paring the results of treatment 2 months after the laser
treatments with 2 months after the chemical peels, the
patients had a greater improvement after the additional
chemical peels. Therewere no complications in this study.
The patients were able to continue all of their regular ac-
tivities throughout the study.
Conclusion:This sequential treatment regimen using the
1450-nm, midinfrared, nonablative diode laser with dy-
namic cooling spray and 30% trichloroacetic acid peels
produced anoticeable improvement in the acne scarswith-
out any associated morbidity.
Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2005;7:251-255
A CNE IS A COMMON DISOR-
der, which affects the vast
majority of people usually
between the ages of 11 and
30 years. Many of the af-
fected individuals develop noticeable scar-
ring that typicallypersistsunless it is treated.
These facial scars can lead to embarrass-
ment and loss of self-esteem,1 and theymay
also inhibit interpersonal interactions.
In the past, treatment of acne scars fre-
quently involved ablative modalities such
as dermabrasion or laser resurfacing that,
while improving the appearance of th