: A current popular aesthetic problem, especially among younger women, is striae distensae (SD), also referred to as "stretch marks.".
: The potential use of the 675 nm laser has been investigated in ...the treatment of SD.
: Patients underwent three sessions of the 675 nm laser with a 1-month interval between sessions. A total of three sessions were performed. The Manchester Scar Scale was used to assess stretch mark changes, and the mean scores related to each parameter at baseline and 6M FU after the last treatment session were measured. A clinical photographic evaluation was performed to show the aesthetic improvement of SD.
: The patients' treated areas were the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, and breasts. Mean scores related to each Manchester Scar Scale parameter, with their relative percentage change, at baseline and 6M FU after the last treatment session were significantly improved. The total mean Manchester Scar Scale score significantly diminished from 14.16 (±1.30) to 10.06 (±1.32) at 6M FU (
< 0.01). The clinical photographs showed promising aesthetic SD improvement.
: 675 nm laser therapy demonstrated a good tolerance for the treatment of stretch marks applied to various body areas preventing any discomfort for the patient and with a significant improvement in skin texture.
Background and Objectives: For many years, fully ablative laser treatments, particularly those performed with a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, were regarded as the gold standard for resurfacing. This ...study’s goal is to assess the depth that can be reached by a new CO2 scanner system, through a skin model with greater dermal thickness, to use in the treatment of deep scarring. Materials and Methods: Male human skin tissue was laser-treated using a CO2 fractional laser and a new scanning system, and all samples were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, dehydrated using a series of crescent alcohol, embedded in paraffin, sectioned in series (4–5 µm thick), stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and then analysed under an optical microscope. Results: From the epidermis through the underlying papillary and reticular dermis to various depths of the dermis, microablation columns of damage and coagulated microcolumns of collagen were observed. The reticular dermis was fully penetrated up to 6 mm at higher energy levels (210 mJ/DOT), resulting in deeper tissue injury. Although the laser might penetrate further, the skin stops there, leaving just the fat and muscular tissue. Conclusions: The deep layers of the dermis can be penetrated by the CO2 laser system throughout the entire dermal thickness when using the new scanning system, suggesting that this laser’s potential impact, at the selected settings, covers all skin targets required to perform superficial or deep treatments on any dermatological issue. Finally, patients who have problems, such as morbid scar-deep complications, which affect their quality of life, are more likely to profit from this innovative technique.
Light-based therapies have been proven to influence and perhaps reverse skin ageing at clinical, molecular and histologic levels. Laser technology decreases photodamage by promoting collagen type I ...and III synthesis and enhancing the expression of heat shock protein. Aims: This study aims to assess different doses of 675 nm irradiation on human dermal fibroblast cells to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects on the rejuvenation process. Methods: This study employed a laser system that emits 675 nm wavelength: 260, 390, 520 and 650 J/cm2 doses were tested on adult human dermal fibroblast cells. Cellular viability, proliferation, and synthesis of type I and III collagen were studied. Results: No dose tested showed effects on cell viability and proliferation at 24 and 48 h from the irradiation. Doses of 260 and 520 J/cm2 causes a significant decrease in type I collagen fluorescence intensity, while 390 J/cm2 elicits a significant increase in type III collagen expression. Conclusions: Our results showed that 675 nm laser irradiation does not affect cell viability while modulating cell proliferation and collagen synthesis in human adult cultured fibroblasts in vitro. These findings suggest that 675 nm laser irradiation potentially plays a role in skin rejuvenation.
•Change in type I/III collagen ratio induces premature ageing.•675 nm irradiation can modulate cultured human dermal fibroblasts.•675 nm irradiation directly affects collagen synthesis stimulating neocollagenesis.•Potential role of 675 nm in skin rejuvenation via modulating collagen synthesis.•Light-based therapy can reduce photodamage.
Background and Objectives: Acne scars are one of the most disturbing and long-term symptoms of acne vulgaris, having a negative impact on a person’s physical, emotional, and social well-being. Aim: ...the purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and post-treatment outcomes of a dual-wavelength system combining the irradiation of two wavelengths at 10,600 nm and 1540 nm in the management of facial atrophic acne scars. Materials and Methods: Four healthy adult volunteers aged 24–53 years were enrolled. The areas treated were the full face (two patients), cheeks (one patient), and forehead (one patient). A dual-wavelength system (1540 nm and 10,600 nm) was used for this study. Patients underwent 2–4 treatment sessions, and the treatments were performed once every 45–90 days. All possible side effects such as burning sensation, dyschromia, mild to moderate post-treatment erythema, bleeding, itching, edema, and crusting were checked. The index to assess edema and erythema was based on a four-point scale (none, mild, moderate, and severe) and was applied before and at 3-month follow-up (3 MFU) after the last treatment session. In addition, a patient assessment was conducted before treatment and at 3 MFU after the last treatment session. Results: For all patients examined, the edema index was mild, while for the erythema index, 3/4 patients experienced moderate and 1/4 patients experienced mild symptoms. The mean patient downtime was 5.8 ± 0.5 days. Concerning the patient assessment, 2/4 subjects showed excellent improvement, 1/4 patients showed good improvement, and 1/4 patients showed slight improvement. As shown by the photographic assessment, a noticeable improvement in skin texture and a substantial reduction in acne scars were observed at the end of treatment. Conclusions: This dual-wavelength laser technology has the potential to be an interesting and safe approach for acne scar treatment, with a low risk of scarring/hypopigmentation and a shorter healing time.
Background and Objectives: For nearly 15 years, carbon dioxide (CO2) laser has been the gold standard in skin rejuvenation. Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a new laser ...device which combines CO2 and 1540 nm wavelengths in wrinkles reduction, using a recently developed scanning unit named the µScan DOT scanner. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 female patients underwent from two to four laser treatment sessions performed once every 45–90 days. Wrinkles reduction was evaluated using the Fitzpatrick Wrinkle Classification System (FWCS). Evaluations of five-point Global Patient’s Assessment (PGA) and an Oedema and Erythema index based on a four-point scale were carried out. A careful photographic evaluation was performed to observe the patients’ aesthetic improvements. All the assessments were performed before and at 3 months follow up (3 MFU) after the last treatment session. Results: The mean FWCS score significantly (p < 0.01) decreased from 5.45 ± 2.21 at baseline to 3.3 ± 1.78 at 3 MFU after the last treatment session. In total, 8/20 (40%) subjects reported excellent improvement, 7/20 (35%) subjects showed good improvement, 5/20 (25%) subjects showed slight improvement, and 0/20 (0%) subjects showed no improvement. Concerning the Oedema index, 15/20 subjects experienced a mild one, 5/20 subjects experienced a moderate one, and none of 20 experienced a severe one, while for the Erythema index, 1/20 patients experienced mild, 18/20 patients experienced moderate, and only 1/20 patient experienced severe erythema. No severe adverse events were observed. Conclusions: This dual-wavelength laser technique may become a promising new option for safe, nonsurgical improvement for skin rejuvenation with an extremely low risk of scarring or hypopigmentation and shorter healing times.
Abstract
Background
Noninvasive skin rejuvenation treatment is growing in recognition to aesthetic medicine.
Aim
The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy and the safety of the 675‐nm ...laser source treatment of photodamaged hands.
Materials and methods
The study included 21 patients (6 males and 15 females) with a mean age of 63 (± 9) years. Patients were treated with —two to three sessions of the 675‐nm laser with a 1‐month interval between sessions. Photos of each patient were collected at baseline, and 3 months after the last laser session. The 5‐point Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) was recorded with their final assessment session (3 months).
Results
The total GAIS scores showed satisfactory results: 15 patients (71%) experienced 4 score (excellent improvement) changes and 6 patients (29%) experienced 3 score (good improvement) changes. Clinical images showed good efficacy and visible aesthetic results for the management of photodamaged skin. No serious adverse effects were recorded.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of for the aesthetic improvement of skin pigmentation and texture for photodamaged hands.
In this paper, a wearable platform for monitoring the wrist flexion and extension is reported. Differently, from similar devices already presented in literature, organic field-effect transistors will ...be effectively employed as strain sensors. We propose a novel device, fabricated over flexible plastic substrates, and capable to operate at low voltages (≤2 V). Thanks to these properties, the proposed devices can be integrated into a custom-made Lycra® glove for wrist motion monitoring without affecting the naturalness of movements, and interfaced with a portable readout electronic module. The readout electronics is able to transduce the current variation in the transistor structure into a voltage signal, opportunely conditioned and converted for proper acquisition by the elaboration unit. Control software allows users to set different control signals, including sensor polarization and overall amplification, to carry out sensor calibration and to finally record and real-time signal visualization. A complete electrical characterization of fabricated strain sensors is reported, as well as the evaluation of their functionality when mounted on the glove. The readout circuit is described, with details about the analog front-end design and simulation. Finally, the correct functionality of the complete system is demonstrated by the experimental acquisition of wrist movements and resolution evaluation. Thanks to the intrinsic properties of organic electronics in terms of lightweight, the platform represents a valuable system for non-invasive, imperceptible, and comfortable evaluation of wrist motion in real time, thus being effective for different applications such as rehabilitation and occupational health.