Low Risk of PostinflammatoryHyperpigmentation in Skin Types 4 and 5 AfterTreatment With Fractional CO2 Laser Device

Background/Objective: Hyperpigmentation occurs in more than 37% of dark-skinned subjects treated with a fully ablative CO2 laser device. This study assessed the risk of postinfl ammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) in subjects with skin types 4 and 5 treated once with a specifi c protocol of treatment using a fractional CO2 laser.
Methods: Seven subjects with photodamaged skin received a single facial treatment using a fractional CO2 laser. Anesthesia was limited to a lidocaine and prilocaine cream for 1 hour before the single-pass treatment. Subjects were evaluated for improvement and PIH on alternate days for 14 days, and at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months posttreatment.
Results: All subjects achieved improvement in their specifi c skin conditions and in skin texture. Postinfl ammatory hyperpigmentation was not observed in any subject. Four subjects experienced no pain during treatment, while 3 reported mild pain. Recovery was associated with minimal pain and itching.
Conclusion: In dark-skinned subjects, fractional CO2 laser treatment and topical anesthesia subjectively improves common skin conditions without PIH.