Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Apr;16(4):32-37.

Treatment of Post-acne Scarring with Long-pulsed and Q-switched 1,064nm Nd:YAG Laser

Khaled Gharib  1 , Wael Seoudy  2 , Mahmoud A Rageh  3 , Sahar Abdelsatar  1 , Elsayed Khater  1
Affiliations

Treatment of Post-acne Scarring with Long-pulsed and Q-switched 1,064nm Nd:YAG Laser

Khaled Gharib et al. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2023 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Acne scarring is one of the most dramatic consequences of inflammatory acne. It can lead to physical disfigurement and psychological burden on the affected individuals. Many treatment options for post-acne scarring are used, with variable results. Nonablative lasers, such as the 1,064nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser, are known to ameliorate acne scar appearance by stimulating collagen production and dermal remodeling.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and long-term effects of long-pulsed and Q-switched 1,064nm Nd:YAG lasers in the treatment of acne scars.

Methods: From March to December 2019, a total of 25 patients with different skin types with acne scars were treated. Patients were divided into two groups. In Group I, 12 patients received a combination of Q-switched 1,064nm Nd:YAG laser, then long-pulsed 1,064nm Nd:YAG laser. In Group II, 13 patients received a combination of long-pulsed 1,064nm Nd:YAG laser, then Q-switched 1,064nm Nd:YAG laser. All patients received a total of six sessions at two-week intervals.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the studied groups in skin type, lesions, or scar type. A positive response with either good or excellent results was documented in 43 patients, corresponding to 86. Six percent of the patients included in this study. Excellent response was observed in a total of 17 patients (26.6%). Twenty-six patients (60%) showed a moderate-to-good response, while seven patients (13.4 %) showed a fair response. The majority of patients in this study had an excellent-to-good response, with an 86.6% improvement of post-acne scars after laser sessions.

Conclusion: Q-switched and long-pulsed 1,064nm Nd:YAG lasers are considered an efficient and safe modality for the treatment of mild and moderate post-acne scars. Both lasers can enhance dermal collagen remodeling and spare the epidermis with minimal downtime after the procedure.

Keywords: Q-switched Nd:YAG laser; Scars; acne scars; long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURES: The authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to the contents of this article.

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Female patient, age 23, with post acne scars treated with Q-switched then long pulsed neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG lasers; Group Ia) showing excellent response; A) Before laser sessions; B) After 6 laser sessions.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.
Female patient age 29 with post acne scars treated with long pulsed then Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG lasers; Group Ib) showing excellent response. A. Before laser sessions. B. After 6 laser sessions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Hazarika N. Acne vulgaris: new evidence in pathogenesis and future modalities of treatment. J Dermatolog Treat. 2021;32(3):277–285. - PubMed
    1. Moradi Tuchayi S, Makrantonaki E, Ganceviciene R et al. Acne vulgaris. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015;1:15029. - PubMed
    1. Rivera AE. Acne scarring: a review and current treatment modalities. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;59(4):659–676. - PubMed
    1. Cohen BE, Brauer JA, Geronemus RG. Acne scarring: a review of available therapeutic lasers. Lasers Surg Med. 2016;48(2):95–115. - PubMed
    1. Feng H, Wu Y, Jiang M et al. The efficacy and safety of fractional 1064nm Nd:YAG picosecond laser combined with intense pulsed light in the treatment of atrophic acne scar: a split-face study. Lasers Surg Med. 2021;53(10):1356–1363. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources