Περίληψη:
BACKGROUND Although beam-scanning carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers have
provided a highly efficient tool for esthetic skin rejuvenation there
has been no comprehensive animal studies looking into microbial skin
changes following CO2 laser skin resurfacing.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the in vivo effects of CO2 laser skin resurfacing
in an experimental rat model in comparison with mechanical abrasion on
the skin microbial flora.
METHODS Four separate cutaneous sections of the right dorsal surface of
10 Wistar rats were treated with a CO2 laser, operating at 18W and
delivering a radiant energy of 5.76J/cm(2), while mechanical abrasions
of the skin were created on four sections of the left dorsal surface
using a scalpel. Samples for culture and biopsies were obtained from the
skin surfaces of the rats on day 1 of application of the CO2 laser or
mechanical abrasion, as well as 10, 30, and 90 days after the procedure.
The presence of four microorganisms (staphylococci, streptococci,
diphtheroids, and yeasts) was evaluated as a microbe index for the skin
flora, and colony counts were obtained using standard microbiological
methods.
RESULTS Skin biopsy specimens, following CO2 laser treatment, initially
showed epidermal and papillary dermal necrosis and later a
re-epithelization of the epidermis as well as the generation of new
collagen on the upper papillary dermis. The reduction in microbial
counts on day 1 of the CO2 laser-inflicted wound was statistically
significant for staphylococci and diphtheroids compared with the
baseline counts (p=.004 and p <.001, respectively), and for
staphylococci, diphtheroids, and yeasts compared with the
scalpel-inflicted wound on the same day (p=0.029, p <.001, and p=.030,
respectively). CONCLUSIONS Skin resurfacing using CO2 lasers
considerably reduces microbial counts of most microorganisms in
comparison with either normal skin flora or a scalpel-inflicted wound.
This might contribute to the positive clinical outcome of laser skin
resurfacing.
Συγγραφείς:
Manolis, EN
Tsakris, A
Kaklamanos, I
Markogiannakis, A and
Siomos, K
