Effectiveness and Safety of the Use of 1470 nm Laser Therapy in Patients Suffering From Acne Scarring of the Facial Skin.

Abstract

Purpose: This prospective, single-center, open-label study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 1470 nm non-ablative laser therapy in treating facial acne scars. The primary objective was to assess improvements in skin texture, elasticity, and scar depth and diameter, while confirming the absence of significant adverse effects.

Patients and methods: 40 healthy female volunteers aged 18 to 42 years with facial acne scars underwent three sessions of 1470 nm laser therapy at two-week intervals. Outcome measures included cutometric assessments, high-frequency ultrasound evaluations, and clinical photographic documentation, conducted at baseline and on days 21, 42, 70, and 130 post-treatment.

Results: Significant improvements were observed across all evaluated parameters. Skin elasticity increased progressively from baseline (mean: 62.95, SD=4.0) to day 21 (63.72, SD=3.8, +4%), day 42 (67.11, SD=4.0, +6%), day 70 (69.08, SD=4.2, +11%), and day 130 (70.80, SD=4.4, +14%; p<0.001). High-frequency ultrasound measurements revealed substantial reductions in scar depth, which decreased by 5% at day 21 (mean: 0.18 mm, SD=0.05, p<0.001), 20% at day 42 (0.15 mm, SD=0.055, p<0.001), 48% at day 70 (0.10 mm, SD=0.06, p<0.001), and 63% at day 130 (0.07 mm, SD=0.065, p<0.001). Scar diameter followed a similar trend, with reductions of 16% at day 21 (3.08 mm, SD=0.3, p<0.001), 26% at day 42 (2.71 mm, SD=0.34, p<0.001), 42% at day 70 (2.13 mm, SD=0.36, p<0.001), and 62% at day 130 (1.39 mm, SD=0.38, p<0.001). Clinical photographic evaluations corroborated these quantitative findings, showing visible improvements in scar appearance and overall skin texture. No adverse events were reported throughout the study.

Conclusion: The 1470 nm non-ablative laser therapy demonstrated high efficacy and safety in the treatment of acne scars, delivering substantial therapeutic benefits and high patient satisfaction, offering a valuable therapeutic option for addressing both pigmentation and textural issues associated with acne scars.