Carbon Plus Laser Touted for Rejuvenation of Asian Skin

LAS VEGAS—An aging Asian face can be rejuvenated with application of carbon followed by nonablative laser treatment.

"My nonablative toy at the moment is carbon plus a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser," Dr. Ruban Nathan said at an international symposium on cosmetic and laser surgery.

Carbon applied to skin serves as an artificial chromophore to transfer energy into the epidermis, Dr. Nathan said. "You leave carbon on for half an hour or steam it in to skin for even better results."

With the growth of ethnic populations in the United States, addressing dermatologic concerns specific to ethnic skin is of growing importance to U.S. dermatologists, said Dr. Nathan, who is in private practice in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Pigmentation and sagging are the cosmetic concerns of older Asians—"end of story," Dr. Nathan said. These patients will come for treatment of lentigos, dyschromias, ephelides, melasma, periorbital hyperpigmentation, and maturational hyperpigmentation. Depigmentation agents, microdermabrasion, fruit acids, intense pulsed light (IPL), and fractional resurfacing are treatment options.

Researchers assessed 10 women with Fitzpatrick skin types III-V with melasma unresponsive to previous therapy treated with fractional thermolysis, for example (Dermatol. Surg. 2005;31:1645–50). "This study showed some moderate improvement, but the cost is prohibitive where I come from," Dr. Nathan said.

"Lasers are not available everywhere in the world," Dr. Nathan said. "I wish these were more affordable. They are available for the few." In addition, there is a paucity of data on reactions of Asian patients to laser treatment.

Radiofrequency devices might also benefit ethnic skin types. This treatment was effective for cosmetic improvement of nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and jowls in a study of 85 Japanese women (Lasers Surg. Med. 2005;36:92–7). "They had good results," Dr. Nathan said.

Counsel patients about potential side effects, such as risk of hypopigmentation with IPLs, Dr. Nathan said. Also provide strict sun avoidance strategies, such as UV screening on car windows and limitations on outdoor activities.

Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is another clinical concern following laser treatment of Asian skin. The risk is relatively low with the carbon plus Q-switched Nd:YAG laser regimen, Dr. Nathan said. "I've done this in 60 or 70 patients and I think two had postinflammatory hyperpigmentation."

Dr. Nathan emphasized a need for additional physician education on the unique issues affecting Asian skin. "Anyone who is seeing a lot of Asian patients should go to conferences like this or conferences in Asia so you know the parameters and pitfalls."

LAS VEGAS—An aging Asian face can be rejuvenated with application of carbon followed by nonablative laser treatment.

"My nonablative toy at the moment is carbon plus a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser," Dr. Ruban Nathan said at an international symposium on cosmetic and laser surgery.

Carbon applied to skin serves as an artificial chromophore to transfer energy into the epidermis, Dr. Nathan said. "You leave carbon on for half an hour or steam it in to skin for even better results."

With the growth of ethnic populations in the United States, addressing dermatologic concerns specific to ethnic skin is of growing importance to U.S. dermatologists, said Dr. Nathan, who is in private practice in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Pigmentation and sagging are the cosmetic concerns of older Asians—"end of story," Dr. Nathan said. These patients will come for treatment of lentigos, dyschromias, ephelides, melasma, periorbital hyperpigmentation, and maturational hyperpigmentation. Depigmentation agents, microdermabrasion, fruit acids, intense pulsed light (IPL), and fractional resurfacing are treatment options.

Researchers assessed 10 women with Fitzpatrick skin types III-V with melasma unresponsive to previous therapy treated with fractional thermolysis, for example (Dermatol. Surg. 2005;31:1645–50). "This study showed some moderate improvement, but the cost is prohibitive where I come from," Dr. Nathan said.

"Lasers are not available everywhere in the world," Dr. Nathan said. "I wish these were more affordable. They are available for the few." In addition, there is a paucity of data on reactions of Asian patients to laser treatment.

Radiofrequency devices might also benefit ethnic skin types. This treatment was effective for cosmetic improvement of nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and jowls in a study of 85 Japanese women (Lasers Surg. Med. 2005;36:92–7). "They had good results," Dr. Nathan said.

Counsel patients about potential side effects, such as risk of hypopigmentation with IPLs, Dr. Nathan said. Also provide strict sun avoidance strategies, such as UV screening on car windows and limitations on outdoor activities.

Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is another clinical concern following laser treatment of Asian skin. The risk is relatively low with the carbon plus Q-switched Nd:YAG laser regimen, Dr. Nathan said. "I've done this in 60 or 70 patients and I think two had postinflammatory hyperpigmentation."

Dr. Nathan emphasized a need for additional physician education on the unique issues affecting Asian skin. "Anyone who is seeing a lot of Asian patients should go to conferences like this or conferences in Asia so you know the parameters and pitfalls."

LAS VEGAS—An aging Asian face can be rejuvenated with application of carbon followed by nonablative laser treatment.

"My nonablative toy at the moment is carbon plus a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser," Dr. Ruban Nathan said at an international symposium on cosmetic and laser surgery.

Carbon applied to skin serves as an artificial chromophore to transfer energy into the epidermis, Dr. Nathan said. "You leave carbon on for half an hour or steam it in to skin for even better results."

With the growth of ethnic populations in the United States, addressing dermatologic concerns specific to ethnic skin is of growing importance to U.S. dermatologists, said Dr. Nathan, who is in private practice in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Pigmentation and sagging are the cosmetic concerns of older Asians—"end of story," Dr. Nathan said. These patients will come for treatment of lentigos, dyschromias, ephelides, melasma, periorbital hyperpigmentation, and maturational hyperpigmentation. Depigmentation agents, microdermabrasion, fruit acids, intense pulsed light (IPL), and fractional resurfacing are treatment options.

Researchers assessed 10 women with Fitzpatrick skin types III-V with melasma unresponsive to previous therapy treated with fractional thermolysis, for example (Dermatol. Surg. 2005;31:1645–50). "This study showed some moderate improvement, but the cost is prohibitive where I come from," Dr. Nathan said.

"Lasers are not available everywhere in the world," Dr. Nathan said. "I wish these were more affordable. They are available for the few." In addition, there is a paucity of data on reactions of Asian patients to laser treatment.

Radiofrequency devices might also benefit ethnic skin types. This treatment was effective for cosmetic improvement of nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and jowls in a study of 85 Japanese women (Lasers Surg. Med. 2005;36:92–7). "They had good results," Dr. Nathan said.

Counsel patients about potential side effects, such as risk of hypopigmentation with IPLs, Dr. Nathan said. Also provide strict sun avoidance strategies, such as UV screening on car windows and limitations on outdoor activities.

Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is another clinical concern following laser treatment of Asian skin. The risk is relatively low with the carbon plus Q-switched Nd:YAG laser regimen, Dr. Nathan said. "I've done this in 60 or 70 patients and I think two had postinflammatory hyperpigmentation."

Dr. Nathan emphasized a need for additional physician education on the unique issues affecting Asian skin. "Anyone who is seeing a lot of Asian patients should go to conferences like this or conferences in Asia so you know the parameters and pitfalls."