Comparison of a 585-nm Pulsed Dye Laser and a 1064-nm Nd:YAG Laser for the Treatment of Acne Scars: A Randomized Split-face Clinical Study

Background: No studies have reported a comparison of the pulsed dye laser (PDL) and the 1064-nm long-pulsed neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser treatment of acne scars in the same patient.

Objective: To compare the efficacies of these two lasers in the treatment of acne scars.

Methods: Eighteen patients received 4 sessions of PDL or Nd:YAG laser at 2-week intervals in a randomized split-face manner.

Results: Both lasers induced notable and comparable improvement in the appearance of acne scars, particularly superficial scars, with significant reductions in the scores associated with the clinical evaluation scale for acne scarring (ECCA). Histologic evaluations revealed significant increases in collagen production and deposition following both lasers. Patient satisfaction scores concurred with these improvements. Ice-pick scars and boxcar scars tended to respond better to PDL and Nd:YAG lasers, respectively.

Limitations: The number of subjects was small.

Conclusions: Both lasers are effective modalities for the treatment of acne scars. Optimal outcomes might be achieved considering scar types and responses to a specific laser.