Trial reportJournal of cosmetic dermatology2025
A Retrospective Analysis of the Effectiveness of Fractional CO₂ Laser Therapy in Treating Linear Scars: Investigating the Ideal Timing for Intervention.
Trial report in Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Advanced Fractional CO₂ Laser Treatment for Steroid-Induced Atrophy Scars: Clinical Outcomes.The American journal of case reports · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLinear scars, resulting from surgical incisions or traumatic injuries, can pose both aesthetic and functional dilemmas. Ablative fractional CO₂ laser (AFCL) therapy has been recognized for its ability to enhance the appearance and flexibility of scars; however, the ideal timing for such treatments remains a subject of debate.
aimsThis study retrospectively evaluates the effectiveness of AFCL in treating linear atrophic and hypertrophic scars, with a focus on identifying the optimal timing to achieve the best possible outcomes.
methodsPatients who underwent treatment for linear scars using AFCL at our hospital between January 2022 and July 2024 were included in the study. Participants were categorized into two groups: those with atrophic scars and those with hypertrophic scars. Hypertrophic scars were assessed using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), whereas atrophic scars were evaluated with the Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating (SCAR) scale. Furthermore, considering the timing of scar formation-with a six-month period as the threshold-two subgroups were categorized as early treatment and late treatment. The disparities in scar improvement rates were then computed and subjected to analysis.
resultsAmong 55 patients, 31 had atrophic scars and 24 had hypertrophic scars. AFCL treatment significantly improved clinical scores in both groups. The SCAR score for atrophic scars decreased from 6.50 (SD 1.31) to 4.92 (SD 1.71) (p < 0.001), and the VSS score for hypertrophic scars decreased from 6.02 (SD 0.46) to 2.73 (SD 0.39) (p < 0.001). The early-treatment subgroup showed a 35.38% (SD 24.54%) improvement in atrophic scars, significantly higher than the 12.53% (SD 25.65%) in the late-treatment subgroup (p = 0.018). No significant timing effect was found for hypertrophic scars (p = 0.764).
conclusionAFCL is an effective treatment for linear scars. Early intervention, specifically within the first 6 months, leads to superior outcomes for atrophic scars. In contrast, the timing of treatment is less critical for hypertrophic scars.
trial registrationChinese clinical trial registry: Registration no. ChiCTR2400092038.
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