Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of a Picosecond Alexandrite Laser With DLA for Acne Scars in Chinese Patients

Background and Objectives Recently, picosecond laser treatment has been used as an effective treatment for acne scars. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a picosecond alexandrite laser with a diffractive lens array in the treatment of acne scars in Chinese patients. Study Design/Materials and Methods Patients with facial acne scars were treated with a picosecond alexandrite laser in three sessions at 4‐ to 6‐week intervals and followed up for 2 months. Primary outcomes were measured by physicians’ blinded evaluation of the acne scar using the ECCA (échelle d’éva physicians'luation clinique des cicatrices d'acné) grading scale. The secondary outcomes included the investigator global assessment (IGA) on the improvement of post‐inflammatory erythema (PIE), patients’ assessment of improvement on a 4‐point scale and of satisfaction on a 5‐point scale. Pain scores and adverse effects were also evaluated. Result Twenty patients with Fitzpatrick skin types III and IV were enrolled in the study and completed all treatment and follow‐up visits. The mean ECCA scores fell from 197.75 ± 35.26 to 142.00 ± 35.92 (a 28% improvement), and the change was significant ( P = 0.000). The mean IGA score of PIE improvement was 3.03 ± 0.75 (0 = no improvement and 4 = 76–100% improvement). On the basis of the patients’ self‐assessment, the average improvement scores were 2.30 ± 0.98 (0 indicating 0–25% improvement and 3 indicating >75% improvement). In total, 50% and 30% of the patients were “satisfied” and “very satisfied,” respectively, with the treatment. The mean pain score was 3.20 ± 0.50 (0 = no pain, 10 = maximum pain) with topical anesthesia. The adverse effects included transient and mild erythema, edema, and scabbing. Conclusions Treatment with a picosecond alexandrite laser with a diffractive lens array is effective and safe for acne scars in Chinese patients. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.