AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR LASER MEDICINE AND SURGERY TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL MEETING ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA APRIL 9-13, 2003 ABSTRACTS

RANDOM CONTROL STUDY LOOKING AT THE USE OF 1320 nm Nd:YAG LASER
AND INTENSE PULSED LIGHT SOURCE FOR NON-ABLATIVE SKIN REJUVENATION
IN CHINESE
Chan HH1, Ho WS2, and Smith NT3
1Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong
2Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery,
Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, HK
3Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong

Background: Non-ablative rejuvenation with a 1320 nm Nd:YAG laser or intense pulse light source has generated much interest. Studies of dark skinned patients have been conducted among Spanish and Japanese populations. However, which device is more suitable for Asian is not yet known.

Objective: To study and compare the use of 1320 nm Nd:YAG laser/intense pulsed light source in non-ablative skin rejuvenation in Chinese.

Method: 47 patients with Glogau classification type 2 photoageing were recruited into the study and were randomized to receive treatment with either 1320 nm laser, or intense pulsed light source. All have received treatment at monthly interval for at least 4 months before assessment. All patients were assessed using a structure questionnaire for the degree of improvement in term of skin texture, pigmentation and wrinkle improvement. A cutometer was used for the objective measurement of skin elasticity and firmness.

Result: For subjective degree of improvement, 37% patients treated with 1320 nm Nd-YAG recorded moderate to significant improvement as compare to 20% of those treated with IPL. However, in term of pigmentation, all patients treated with IPL
recorded at least mild degree of improvement as compared to 33% in the cooltouch group. Cutometer assessment indicated significant improvement in firmness and elasticity of most of the important parameters for 1320 nm Nd-YAG but only some of the parameters for IPL.

Conclusion: 1320 nm Nd:YAG appears to be more effective in the improvement of wrinkle than IPL. However, in term of pigment reduction, IPL appears to be more superior. A combination approach using both 1320 nm Nd:YAG and IPL can be particularly applicable in the use of non-ablative skin rejuvenation for Asian.