DERMATOLOGY: Scarring reduced in laser treatment of rhinophyma

Fractional ablative carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser therapy has proven able to produce good cosmetic outcomes in people with mild to moderate rhinophyma, a condition characterized by prominent pores, a fibrous thickening of the nose, and sometimes rosacea.

Researchers at the University of California–Irvine and their colleagues used aggressive parameters with Solta Medical's (Hayward, CA) Fraxel re:Pair (settings of up to 70 mJ, 70% density, and 16–18 passes) to treat five patients. All subjects tolerated the treatment well; reepithelialization and self-limited edema and erythema occurred at four to seven days, and no adverse events were reported. Both patients and physicians observed improved appearance without the typical scarring caused by most other treatments.¹

1. K. L. Serowka, N. Saedi, J. S. Dover, and C. B. Zachary, Lasers Surg. Med., 1096–9101 (2013); doi:10.1002/lsm.22184.