Laser skin resurfacing with the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that char-free pulsed carbon dioxide lasers are useful in the treatment of rhytids. Other infrared lasers have also been observed to induce changes in the skin. OBJECTIVE: In this pilot study, we evaluated the rhytid resurfacing capability of the Q-switched neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garden (QS Nd:YAG) laser at 1064 nm as compared with char-free carbon dioxide lasers at 10,600 nm. METHODS: Three lasers were used in the study: The QS Nd:YAG laser, the SilkTouch carbon dioxide laser, and the UltraPulse carbon dioxide laser. Eleven subjects were treated in either the periorbital or perioral region with the QS Nd:YAG laser on one side of the face, and both of the char-free pulsed carbon dioxide lasers on the other side. The subjects were evaluated at posttreatment days 7, 30, 60, and 90 for improvement of rhytids, healing, pigmentary changes, and erythema. RESULTS: All 11 patients treated with the char-free carbon dioxide lasers improved. Nine of 11 patients treated with the QS Nd:YAG laser were improved. Healing (complete reepithelialization) was noted to occur 3-6 days earlier in sites treated with the QS Nd:YAG than in sites treated with char-free carbon dioxide lasers. Pigmentary changes were not observed in any treatment site. Erythema was observed at 1 month after treatment in all areas treated with the char-free carbon dioxide lasers, but only three patients treated with the QS Nd:YAG exhibited erythema. These were the same three QS Nd:YAG-treated patients whose clinical improvement was comparable with that of the char-free carbon dioxide lasers. CONCLUSION: The Q-switched Nd:YAG laser may play a role in the treatment of rhytids.