Laser resurfacing for dermal photoaging

The skin is a highly organized system composed of resident cells, extracellular matrix, blood vessels, and circulating cells that all work together to maintain cutaneous integrity. Environmental insults, particularly sunlight, act to alter the skin permanently, producing visibly undesirable effects. By wounding the skin or inducing a healing response with minimal wounding, the repair process can be activated to return the skin to a more normal condition. Owing to the complexity of the healing response, even the most well-studied and precise laser system can result in unpredicted results when used to treat photo-damaged skin. Through continued research into the normal functioning of skin, the alterations brought about by chronic photodamage, and the repair process, an integrated approach to treatment of photoaging will evolve. Agents such as alpha-hydroxy acids, retinoids, and growth factors that impact the healing response can be combined with various lasers to optimize improvement of photo-damaged skin, while minimizing the adverse consequences of treatment.