Histologic evaluation of preauricular and postauricular human skin after high-energy, short-pulse carbon dioxide laser

Pilot Ultrastructural Evaluation of Human Preauricular Skin Before and After High-Energy Pulsed Carbon Dioxide Laser Treatment

“…51 The presence of a subepidermal repair zone consisting of new subepidermal collagen at 3 months after laser treatment, comparable to that seen after medium-depth chemical peels or dermabrasion, has also been described. 50,51 The ultrastructural changes seen in our small group of patients at 30 and 90 days after laser resurfacing appear to correlate with these histologic findings.…”

“…[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]50 The increased number and organization of the tonofibrils in epidermal keratinocytes that we have seen at 30 and 90 days after laser treatment appears therefore to be significant, as these findings correlate with the normalization of keratinocyte differentiation from the basal layer to the stratum corneum seen histologically after laser resurfacing. Additionally, the loss of intracellular and intercellular epidermal vacuolization and the presence of folded and tightly apposed intercellular spaces of adjacent keratinocytes studded at intervals with innumerable desmosomes 30 and 90 days after treatment appear to be significant, as these findings are characteristically seen in normal squamous epithelium.…”

“…[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]51,52 The precise control over the extent of tissue vaporization results in minimization of thermal damage to the skin, thereby reducing the potential risks of scarring and hyperpigmentation, while maximizing therapeutic efficacy. 39,[49][50][51][52] The histologic changes seen after pulsed laser resurfacing have recently been detailed. 50,51 Extensive epidermal necrosis and coagulative changes in the superficial papillary dermis are seen 24 hours after laser administration.…”

“…39,[49][50][51][52] The histologic changes seen after pulsed laser resurfacing have recently been detailed. 50,51 Extensive epidermal necrosis and coagulative changes in the superficial papillary dermis are seen 24 hours after laser administration. Partial or complete reepithelialization is usually seen by day 3, although evidence of papillary dermal collagen damage is still seen.…”

“…To our knowledge, the ultrastructural changes seen after treatment with the pulsed carbon dioxide lasers have not yet been described. We sought to determine what changes could be seen not only in the epidermis and dermis, but also at the dermoepidermal junction, using a recent study by Cotton et al 50 as a model for our work.…”