Background
Acne scarring is an unfortunate complication of acne vulgaris. Acne scars occur in nearly 49% of people that suffer from acne and has shown psychosocial effects such as poor self‐esteem, social isolation, low confidence, in addition to a significant depression risk factor and suicide. Multimodal treatment approaches can improve efficacy and treatment considerations should be based on individualized patients. Utilizing lasers in treating acne scars as well as acne scars in ethnic skin are reviewed. Energy‐based devices include fractional (ablative and nonablative) for moderate to severe acne in addition to novel device systems.
Methods
A literature review of treating acne scars with lasers including pulse dye laser, fractional (ablative and nonablative), picosecond, and novel devices.
Results
Use of lasers in treating acne scars is an effective approach and multimodal device options for acne scarring are presented in the review.
Conclusion
Acne‐scarring laser treatment modalities and evidence‐based treatments should be promoted for each individual patient. Updated laser treatments for acne scarring are covered, in addition to ethnic skin, along with a discussion and selection on laser treatment modalities.
Nonsurgical fat reduction has become a very popular cosmetic treatment category with energy-based devices demonstrating, in clinical trials, safety, and efficacy. These devices, which use both radiofrequency and cold, will be presented in this manuscript, and their documented efficacy will be reviewed. As well, the new field of high intensity focused electromagnetic technology is gaining excitement for not only muscle stimulation, but also for fat reduction and now skin tightening. And finally, pharmaceutical agents are being used and investigated for their clinical effects on reducing fat. The myriad of treatment options now available provide clinicians with great choices, with documented safety and efficacy, to reduce fat, tighten the skin, and stimulate muscle formation.
Objective: Molluscum contagiosum (molluscum) is considered benign and self-limiting. However, the caregiver and patient experience largely remains a mystery. This online survey aimed to collect caregivers’ views on their experiences with molluscum infection in their children, including diagnosis, treatment, and the impact of the virus on the caregivers’ and their child’s life.
Methods: Parents, caregivers, and/or legal guardians (ages 18+, 20% male and 80% female) of children diagnosed with molluscum in the past 4 years (ages 3-16 years of age) answered a 15-minute paid online survey with questions about their experience with molluscum.
Results: Caregivers (n=150) were mostly Caucasian (85%), 25-44 years of age (87%) and had at least one child with active molluscum (75%) at the time of the survey. The average number of health care providers (HCPs) consulted for molluscum was 1.95 and diagnosis was made by a variety of HCP types. The spread of molluscum to ≥ 1 child in the household was reported by 60% of caregivers in multi-child households. The average number of treatments used were 2.36 including HCP-administered treatments and consumer products. Caregivers reported moderate to major impact on their lives (62%) or their child’s life (74%) due to molluscum.
Limitations: Questions were not validated, recall time was up to 4 years.
Conclusions: Molluscum patients may receive a diagnosis from many sources. Caregivers may utilize more than one treatment modality to help clear the infection including consumer products. Molluscum can cause an impact on quality of life for affected children and their caregivers.
Utilizing lasers and light sources for the treatment of acne vulgaris has gained in popularity over the past several years. Newer and safer devices have been introduced which have been shown to be beneficial for many suffering from acne vulgaris. This manuscript will review some of the most important lasers and light sources for acne vulgaris, from the beginning of our understanding of these to current day uses.
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