ENLARGED PORES TREATED WITH A COMBINATION OF Q-SWITCHED AND MICROPULSED 1064nm Nd:YAG LASER WITH AND WITHOUT TOPICAL CARBON SUSPENSION: A SIMULTANEOUS SPLIT-FACE TRIAL

The Efficacy and Safety of a Variable Square Pulse (VSP) Erbium:YAG Laser for Treatment of Enlarged Pores in Asians

“…However, among the treatment groups, no statistically significant differences were found between varying pulse durations and between groups treated with and without carbon‐suspended lotions. In contrast, the efficiency of using a carbon‐suspended lotion was demonstrated in a separate study using a Q‐switched laser with micropulse settings [18]. Similar to the observation of the aforementioned study [18], we note that the improvement significantly declined at 6 months after the final laser treatment.…”

“…These medications include oral isotretinoin, antiandrogen hormonal treatments such as oral contraceptive pills, plant extracts used in cosmetic topical preparations, topical vitamin A derivatives, niacinamide, and even chemical peels [2,15]. Laser and EBD procedures have been continuously explored as potential treatments of enlarged facial pores [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. Depending on their intrinsic mechanisms of action, several devices have been reported in the literature to target the different pathophysiologic factors that contribute to the appearance of these patulous skin openings [1,2,9,11].…”

Analysis of the number of enlarged pores according to site, age, and sex

“…Pores are normal structures, but as the pore size increases, they become noticeable and cosmetically problematic. The studies related to pores have focused on the three‐dimensional structure of pores and methods of and size determination, factors that influence pore enlargement, and treatments to reduce pore size …”

Resurrection of a new old technique: The carbon peel laser

“…and "carbon suspension," revealing six results of which five described the CPL applied to the skin. [5][6][7][8][9] In 1997, the technique was firstly reported by Goldberg et al 5 , for hair removal on the face and body of 35 patients. Hair was trimmed at a 1 to 2 mm, the carbon suspension applied for 5 to 10 minutes, and then the Q-switched laser (7 mm spot size, 2-3 J/cm 2 fluence, and 10 nanoseconds pulse) was irradiated on the hairy skin, for a single treatment session.…”

“…7 Furthermore, two studies reported the application of carbon suspension on the skin for 20 minutes and the use of the dual-mode 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser in a micropulsed mode (pulse width 300 microseconds and pulse fluence 2.3 J/cm 2 ), then a Q-switched mode, 5 nanoseconds pulse (both modes with 7 mm spot size, 10 Hz). 8,9 Chung et al 8 The hypotheses for these results were related to: (a) heat, therefore reducing microbial colonization from Propionibacterium acnes and sebaceous glands function; (b) a peeling effect, causing the thinning of stratum corneum and epidermis; (c) shock waves of carbon particles with high speed, producing follicular damage and delayed hair regrowth. 5,9 Interestingly, a temporary erythema is the most common adverse event.…”