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<p>
<bold>Introduction:</bold> Acne scarring is considered one of the complications of acne vulgaris. Scarring is an important aesthetic problem for patients; therefore, effective methods for scar removal are sought. In recent years, laser methods for the treatment of acne scarring have become popular as a result of technological development. Monitoring and objective assessment of treatment outcomes are important elements of laser treatment. High-frequency ultrasonography is a diagnostic modality likely to become a common tool used for this purpose. <bold>Aim:</bold> The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of high-frequency ultrasonography for the monitoring of laser treatment of acne scarring. <bold>Materials and methods:</bold> The study group included 7 patients (6 women and 1 man) aged 29–43 years with evident facial acne scarring. Each patient underwent laser treatment with Alma Harmony Er:Yag laser. Ultrasound examinations were performed with high-frequency DermaMed scanner. The following parameters were assessed on ultrasound images: the thickness of epidermis and dermis, the depth and width of scars. We additionally collected photographic documentation and assessed patient satisfaction with treatment outcomes. <bold>Results:</bold> The analysis of our findings showed statistically significant changes in the thickness of the epidermis and the depth of scars. No statistically significant results were obtained for the thickness of the dermis and the extent (width) of scars. The patients rated treatment outcomes as good. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> High-frequency ultrasonography is a useful method for the monitoring of laser treatment of acne scarring.</p>
</abstract>

Introduction: Acne scarring is considered one of the complications of acne vulgaris. Scarring is an important aesthetic problem for patients; therefore, effective methods for scar removal are sought. In recent years, laser methods for the treatment of acne scarring have become popular as a result of technological development. Monitoring and objective assessment of treatment outcomes are important elements of laser treatment. High-frequency ultrasonography is a diagnostic modality likely to become a common tool used for this purpose. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of high-frequency ultrasonography for the monitoring of laser treatment of acne scarring. Materials and methods: The study group included 7 patients (6 women and 1 man) aged 29–43 years with evident facial acne scarring. Each patient underwent laser treatment with Alma Harmony Er:Yag laser. Ultrasound examinations were performed with high-frequency DermaMed scanner. The following parameters were assessed on ultrasound images: the thickness of epidermis and dermis, the depth and width of scars. We additionally collected photographic documentation and assessed patient satisfaction with treatment outcomes. Results: The analysis of our findings showed statistically significant changes in the thickness of the epidermis and the depth of scars. No statistically significant results were obtained for the thickness of the dermis and the extent (width) of scars. The patients rated treatment outcomes as good. Conclusions: High-frequency ultrasonography is a useful method for the monitoring of laser treatment of acne scarring.

Usefulness of high-frequency ultrasound in the monitoring of laser treatment of acne scars

Journal of Ultrasonography

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Introduction: Acne scarring is considered one of the complications of acne vulgaris. Scarring is an important aesthetic problem for patients; therefore,...

Variable	Time point	T-test for dependent samples, significant differences for p <0.05
Variable	Time point	Mean	SD	Min.	Max.	t	p
Epidermis thickness (mm)	before	0.13	0.02	0.09	0.16	5.264	<0.001
Epidermis thickness (mm)	after	0.11	0.02	0.09	0.15	5.264	<0.001
Dermis thickness (mm)	before	1.22	0,08	1.07	1.34	-1.018	0.327
Dermis thickness (mm)	after	1.23	0.09	1.11	1.45	-1.018	0.327
Scar depth (mm)	before	0.36	0.12	0.16	0.56	7.727	<0.001
Scar depth (mm)	after	0.29	0.13	0.05	0.50	7.727	<0.001
Scar width (mm)	before	2.43	1.09	0.93	4.28	1.985	0.069
Scar width (mm)	after	2.35	1.05	0.95	3.97	1.985	0.069

Usefulness of high-frequency ultrasound in the monitoring of laser treatment of acne scars

Article Category: research-article

Data publikacji: 18 gru 2020

Zakres stron: 279 - 283

Otrzymano: 07 paź 2020

Przyjęty: 30 paź 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2020.0049

Słowa kluczowe
ultrasonography, skin, lasers, scars, acne vulgaris

© 2021 Polish Ultrasound Society. Published by Medical Communications Sp. z o.o.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Effects of laser acne scar removal based on parameters assessed in high-frequency ultrasound

Usefulness of high-frequency ultrasound in the monitoring of laser treatment of acne scars

Article Category: research-article

Data publikacji: 18 gru 2020

Zakres stron: 279 - 283

Otrzymano: 07 paź 2020

Przyjęty: 30 paź 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2020.0049

Słowa kluczoweultrasonography, skin, lasers, scars, acne vulgaris

© 2021 Polish Ultrasound Society. Published by Medical Communications Sp. z o.o.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Effects of laser acne scar removal based on parameters assessed in high-frequency ultrasound

Słowa kluczowe
ultrasonography, skin, lasers, scars, acne vulgaris