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Dermabrasion: therapy and prophylaxis of the photoaged face
A V Benedetto1, T D Griffin, E A Benedetto
1Department of Medicine, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Background:
For many years dermabrasion has been used for the treatment of photoaged facial skin. However, there is a paucity of correlative studies that document the beneficial histopathologic effects of dermabrasion with clinical changes. Moreover, long-term follow-up and comparative studies that document these therapeutic results are lacking.
Objective:
Our purpose was to study patients with photoaged facial skin by comparing the preoperative and postoperative clinical and histopathologic changes that occur as a result of surgical dermabrasion of aged and photodamaged facial skin.
Methods:
Twelve patients 40 years of age and older with significant photoaging and dermatoheliosis were treated with full-face dermabrasion. Predermabrasion biopsy specimens were compared with matched postdermabrasion biopsy specimens taken at various time intervals from 6 months to 8 years after dermabrasion.
Results:
Microscopic normalization of the actinically damaged epidermis and papillary dermis was manifested clinically by the replacement of dermatoheliosis with supple, smooth-textured facial skin that remained clinically evident well beyond 8 years after dermabrasion. In addition, the necessity for the continued treatment of premalignant and malignant lesions was virtually eliminated during the 8-year postdermabrasion period.
Conclusion:
Not only is dermabrasion a beneficial therapeutic option for aged and photo-damaged skin, but it also is a valid means of prophylaxis against neoplastic changes.