From the Guidelines
Laser therapy offers a significant benefit in reducing the recurrence of actinic keratosis lesions, despite potential long-term side effects such as hypopigmentation and persistent erythema. The use of laser therapy, particularly non-ablative techniques, has been shown to be effective in treating field change as well as individual lesions 1.
Benefits of Laser Therapy
- Reduces recurrence of actinic keratosis lesions
- Treats field change as well as individual lesions
- Can be used in combination with other treatments, such as 5-FU or diclofenac, for enhanced effectiveness
- Offers a precise and targeted approach to skin treatment, minimizing damage to surrounding tissue
Considerations and Potential Side Effects
- Long-term side effects, including hypopigmentation and persistent erythema, are possible, particularly with ablative laser techniques 1
- Requires anti-infective prophylaxis to prevent complications
- May cause temporary redness, swelling, and changes in pigmentation
- Sun protection is essential before and after treatment to prevent complications and maintain results
Treatment Options and Effectiveness
- A study comparing erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Er:YAG) laser with 5-FU found significantly fewer recurrences in the laser group at 6 and 12 months 1
- CO2 laser and TCA 30% have also shown significant clearance of lesions, although patient numbers were small 1
- Combination therapies, such as PDT followed by imiquimod, have demonstrated benefits in reducing recurrence and improving treatment outcomes 1
From the Research
Benefits of Laser Therapy on the Skin
- Improves skin rejuvenation, with significant improvement in skin elasticity, wrinkle reduction, and melasma treatment 2
- Effective in reducing actinic keratosis and photodamage, with ablative laser resurfacing and fractional laser treatments being viable options 3
- Safe and effective for skin resurfacing, with minimal risks of scarring and dyspigmentation when using fractional lasers 4, 3
- Can be used to treat various dermatological diseases, including acne, striae, skin rejuvenation, acne scars, melasma, and surgical/traumatic scars 4
- Permits a variety of resurfacing settings, obtaining safe and effective skin rejuvenation and correcting scar tissue in a single treatment 5
- Can be combined with other treatments, such as intense pulsed light, to improve efficacy and reduce adverse effects 6
Specific Benefits for Different Skin Types
- Safe and effective for darker skin types, including Fitzpatrick skin phototypes IV to VI 4
- Effective for treating photoaging skin in Asians, with significant improvements in elasticity, pore size, wrinkles, and skin texture 6
- Can be used to treat skin conditions such as melasma, wrinkles, and skin elasticity in patients with skin prototypes 2 to 4 and wrinkle degrees 1 to 3 5
Treatment Options and Settings
- Nonablative fractional laser resurfacing is a favorable treatment option for various dermatological diseases in darker skin types 4
- Ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser can be used in combination with intense pulsed light for the treatment of photoaging skin 6
- Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with a wavelength of 660 nm can be used for skin rejuvenation, with significant improvements in skin elasticity, wrinkle reduction, and melasma treatment 2