Safety of non-ablative fractional laser for acne scars within 1 month after treatment with oral isotretinoin: A randomized split-face controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Based on reports of poor wound healing and scarring, it is currently recommended that patients wait 6 months after completion of oral isotretinoin therapy before the safe initiation of laser treatment. Our aim was to evaluate the safety of non-ablative fractional laser (NAFL) treatment for acne scars within 1 month after isotretinoin therapy.

STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: This was a randomized split-face controlled trial involving 10 patients with acne scars who had completed isotretinoin treatment. All patients received three treatments each spaced 4 weeks apart with an erbium-doped 1550 nm NAFL on one side of the face within 1 month after isotretinoin therapy. The untreated side acted as a control. Wound healing and adverse effects as well as acne scar improvement were evaluated by two blinded dermatologists.

RESULTS: All patients demonstrated normal wound healing post NAFL treatments, and neither hypertrophic scars nor keloids were observed. Acne scar improvement was satisfactory.

CONCLUSION: NAFL treatment for acne scarring appears to be well tolerated within 1 month of completing isotretinoin treatment. Dermatologists should reevaluate the current recommendation to wait 6 months after isotretinoin treatment for acne scar revision with lasers. Other larger studies are necessary to further challenge this dogma. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:886-890, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.