Efficacy and Safety of Ablative Fractional CO2 Laser Therapy for Localized Scleroderma: A Comprehensive Bench-to-Bedside Approach
January 2025
in “
Dermatologic Therapy
”
TLDR CO₂ laser therapy improves skin and hair growth in localized scleroderma without severe side effects.
This study investigates the efficacy and safety of ablative fractional CO<sub>2</sub> laser therapy for localized scleroderma (LS) through animal experiments and a single-arm, open-label clinical trial. The treatment improved skin fibrosis, reduced dermal thickness, and promoted hair follicle proliferation in animal models. In the clinical trial, CO<sub>2</sub>-AFL significantly enhanced the appearance and key parameters of skin lesions in LS patients, reducing skin hardening and increasing hair follicle growth. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, clinical ratings, and ultrasound-based lesion activity scores all showed significant improvement with p < 0.001. No severe adverse effects were reported, highlighting CO<sub>2</sub>-AFL as a promising therapeutic option for LS.
