What Is It?
Non-ablative lasers are less invasive but also less effective than ablative lasers. Non-ablative fractional lasers shine a focused beam of light at the skin in a fractional (dot-matrix) pattern, leaving the skin intact, while stimulating collagen and elastin production over time.
Good or Excellent Response
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
46% of patients achieved a good (>50%) or excellent (>75%) improvement in scarring after 1 - 6 sessions
Moderate Response
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
80% of patients achieved at least a moderate (>25%) improvement in scarring after 1 - 6 sessions
- Shi, Y., Jiang, W., Li, W., Zhang, W. & Zou, Y. Comparison of fractionated frequency-doubled 1,064/532 nm picosecond Nd:YAG lasers and non-ablative fractional 1,540 nm Er: glass in the treatment of facial atrophic scars: a randomized, split-face, double-blind trial. Ann Transl Med 9, 862 (2021).
- Manuskiatti, W., Punyaratabandhu, P., Tantrapornpong, P., Yan, C. & Cembrano, K. A. G. Objective and long-term evaluation of the efficacy and safety of a 1064-nm picosecond laser with fractionated microlens array for the treatment of atrophic acne scar in Asians. Lasers Surg Med 53, 899–905 (2021).
- Lee, C. H., Jin, E. M., Seo, H. S., Ryu, T.-U. & Hong, S. P. Efficacy and safety of treatment with fractional 1,064-nm picosecond laser with diffractive optic element for wrinkles and acne scars: a clinical study. Ann Dermatol 33, 254–262 (2021).
- Zhang, M., Fang, J., Wu, Q. & Lin, T. Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of a picosecond alexandrite laser with DLA for acne scars in Chinese patients. Lasers Surg Med 52, 176–181 (2020).
- Yang, C.-S. et al. A prospective study of fractionated dual-wavelength picosecond laser in treating acne scar. Lasers Surg Med 52, 735–742 (2020).
- Wen, X., Li, Y., Hamblin, M. R. & Jiang, X. A randomized split-face, investigator-blinded study of a picosecond Alexandrite laser for post-inflammatory erythema and acne scars. Dermatol Ther 33, e13941 (2020).
- Wang, B. et al. Efficacy of non-ablative fractional 1440-nm laser therapy for treatment of facial acne scars in patients with rosacea: a prospective, interventional study. Lasers Med Sci (2020) doi:10.1007/s10103-020-03107-x.
- Mehrabi, J. N., Friedman, O., Al-Niaimi, F. & Artzi, O. Retrospective photographic review of nontattoo indications treated by picosecond laser. J Cosmet Dermatol 19, 612–621 (2020).
- Kwon, H. H. et al. Comparison of a 1064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet picosecond laser using a diffractive optical element vs. a nonablative 1550-nm erbium-glass laser for the treatment of facial acne scarring in Asian patients: a 17-week prospective, randomized, split-face, controlled trial. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol (2020) doi:10.1111/jdv.16643.
- Gamal, A., Nada, E., Ibrahim, H. & Mohamed, E. Erbium-YAG laser alone versus erbium-YAG laser with platelet rich plasma in treatment of atrophic acne scars. (2020).
- Chayavichitsilp, P., Limtong, P., Triyangkulsri, K. & Pratumchart, N. Comparison of fractional neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) 1064-nm picosecond laser and fractional 1550-nm erbium fiber laser in facial acne scar treatment. Lasers Med Sci 35, 695–700 (2020).
- Cannarozzo, G. et al. A new 675-nm laser device in the treatment of acne scars: an observational study. Lasers Med Sci (2020) doi:10.1007/s10103-020-03063-6.
- Koren, A. et al. Efficacy of a combination of diluted calcium hydroxylapatite-based filler and an energy-based device for the treatment of facial atrophic acne scars. Clin Exp Dermatol 44, e171–e176 (2019).
- Huang, C.-H., Chern, E., Peng, J.-H. & Hsien-Li Peng, P. Noninvasive atrophic acne scar treatment in asians with a 755-nm picosecond laser using a diffractive optic lens-a retrospective photographic review. Dermatol Surg 45, 195–202 (2019).
- El-Taieb, M. A. et al. Fractional erbium-YAG laser and platelet-rich plasma as single or combined treatment for atrophic acne scars: a randomized clinical trial. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 9, 707–717 (2019).
- Tantrapornpong, P. & Sirithanabadeekul, P. Efficacy and safety of using a fractional picosecond 1064-nm laser for treatment of atrophic acne scars in Asian skin types. Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 42, 180–184 (2018).
- Elsaie, M. L., Ibrahim, S. M. & Saudi, W. Ablative fractional 10 600 nm carbon dioxide laser versus non-ablative fractional 1540 nm erbium-glass laser in Egyptian post-acne scar patients. J Lasers Med Sci 9, 32–35 (2018).
- Gokalp, H. Evaluation of nonablative fractional laser treatment in scar reduction. Lasers Med Sci 32, 1629–1635 (2017).
- You, H.-J., Kim, D.-W., Yoon, E.-S. & Park, S.-H. Comparison of four different lasers for acne scars: resurfacing and fractional lasers. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 69, e87-95 (2016).
- Yang, Q. et al. Efficacy and safety of 1550-nm fractional laser in the treatment of acne scars in Chinese patients: a split-face comparative study. J Cosmet Laser Ther 18, 312–316 (2016).
- Cachafeiro, T., Escobar, G., Maldonado, G., Cestari, T. & Corleta, O. Comparison of nonablative fractional erbium laser 1,340 nm and microneedling for the treatment of atrophic acne scars: a randomized clinical trial. Dermatol Surg 42, 232–241 (2016).
- Alexis, A. F. et al. Nonablative fractional laser resurfacing for acne scarring in patients with fitzpatrick skin phototypes iv-vi. Dermatol Surg 42, 392–402 (2016).
- Al-Dhalimi, M. & Jaber, A. Treatment of atrophic facial acne scars with fractional Er:Yag laser. J Cosmet Laser Ther 17, 184–188 (2015).
- Sardana, K., Manjhi, M., Garg, V. K. & Sagar, V. Which type of atrophic acne scar (ice-pick, boxcar, or rolling) responds to nonablative fractional laser therapy? Dermatol Surg 40, 288–300 (2014).
- Rongsaard, N. & Rummaneethorn, P. Comparison of a fractional bipolar radiofrequency device and a fractional erbium-doped glass 1,550-nm device for the treatment of atrophic acne scars: a randomized split-face clinical study. Dermatol Surg 40, 14–21 (2014).
- Leheta, T. M., Abdel Hay, R. M., Hegazy, R. A. & El Garem, Y. F. Do combined alternating sessions of 1540 nm nonablative fractional laser and percutaneous collagen induction with trichloroacetic acid 20% show better results than each individual modality in the treatment of atrophic acne scars? A randomized controlled trial. J Dermatolog Treat 25, 137–141 (2014).
- Ghaly, N. Comparative study of 1540-nm non-ablative fractional erbium laser versus 2940-nm ablative erbium: YAG laser in resurfacing of post-acne scarring. Tanta Medical Sciences Journal 3, 29–39 (2012).
- Bencini, P. L. et al. Nonablative fractional photothermolysis for acne scars: clinical and in vivo microscopic documentation of treatment efficacy. Dermatol Ther 25, 463–467 (2012).
- Park, G.-H. et al. Treatment of atrophic scars with fractional photothermolysis: short-term follow-up. J Dermatolog Treat 22, 43–48 (2011).
- Isarría, M. J., Cornejo, P., Muñoz, E., Royo de la Torre, J. & Moraga, J. M. Evaluation of clinical improvement in acne scars and active acne in patients treated with the 1540-nm non-ablative fractional laser. J Drugs Dermatol 10, 907–912 (2011).
- Alajlan, A. M. & Alsuwaidan, S. N. Acne scars in ethnic skin treated with both non-ablative fractional 1,550 nm and ablative fractional CO2 lasers: comparative retrospective analysis with recommended guidelines. Lasers Surg Med 43, 787–791 (2011).
- Mahmoud, B. H. et al. Safety and efficacy of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet fractionated laser for treatment of acne scars in type IV to VI skin. Dermatol Surg 36, 602–609 (2010).
- Hedelund, L., Moreau, K. E. R., Beyer, D. M., Nymann, P. & Haedersdal, M. Fractional nonablative 1,540-nm laser resurfacing of atrophic acne scars. a randomized controlled trial with blinded response evaluation. Lasers Med Sci 25, 749–754 (2010).
- Cho, S. B. et al. Non-ablative 1550-nm erbium-glass and ablative 10 600-nm carbon dioxide fractional lasers for acne scars: a randomized split-face study with blinded response evaluation. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 24, 921–925 (2010).
- Chan, N. P. Y., Ho, S. G. Y., Yeung, C. K., Shek, S. Y. N. & Chan, H. H. The use of non-ablative fractional resurfacing in Asian acne scar patients. Lasers Surg Med 42, 710–715 (2010).
- Yoo, K. H. et al. The use of 1540 nm fractional photothermolysis for the treatment of acne scars in Asian skin: a pilot study. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 25, 138–142 (2009).
- Kim, H. J., Kim, T. G., Kwon, Y. S., Park, J. M. & Lee, J. H. Comparison of a 1,550 nm Erbium: glass fractional laser and a chemical reconstruction of skin scars (CROSS) method in the treatment of acne scars: a simultaneous split-face trial. Lasers Surg Med 41, 545–549 (2009).
- Hu, S., Chen, M.-C., Lee, M.-C., Yang, L.-C. & Keoprasom, N. Fractional resurfacing for the treatment of atrophic facial acne scars in asian skin. Dermatol Surg 35, 826–832 (2009).
- Lee, H. S. et al. Fractional photothermolysis for the treatment of acne scars: a report of 27 Korean patients. J Dermatolog Treat 19, 45–49 (2008).
- Chrastil, B., Glaich, A. S., Goldberg, L. H. & Friedman, P. M. Second-generation 1,550-nm fractional photothermolysis for the treatment of acne scars. Dermatol Surg 34, 1327–1332 (2008).
- Alster, T. S., Tanzi, E. L. & Lazarus, M. The use of fractional laser photothermolysis for the treatment of atrophic scars. Dermatol Surg 33, 295–299 (2007).
- Hasegawa, T. et al. Clinical trial of a laser device called fractional photothermolysis system for acne scars. J Dermatol 33, 623–627 (2006).
Side Effects
Low-Medium
Low-medium side effects and adverse reactions
Reviews
3.0
139 Reviews