Efficacy of Fractional Carbon Dioxide (CO(2)) Laser versus Q-Switched Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) and Potassium-Titanyl-Phosphate (KTP) Lasers in the Treatment of Acanthosis Nigricans

BACKGROUND: Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a common chronic skin disorder clinically presents by velvety hyperpigmented lesions mainly at the flexural areas. Fractional photothermolysis has been reported to improve both pigmentary and textural changes by removing thin layers of skin with minimal thermal damage. Other options are the Q-switched (Qs) Nd:YAG (1064 nm) and Qs KTP (532 nm) lasers. Both can induce collagen remodeling by dermal photo-mechanical microdamage. AIM OF THE WORK: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical efficacy and the safety of fractional CO(2) laser versus Qs Nd:YAG and KTP lasers in the treatment of acanthosis nigricans. METHODS: This randomized-controlled split neck study was conducted on 23 patients suffering from AN. For each patient, one side of the neck was randomly assigned to fractional CO(2) laser and the other side to Qs Nd:YAG and KTP lasers every four weeks for four months followed by 4 monthly follow-up assessment. Acanthosis Nigricans Area and Severity Index (ANASI) score, melanin and erythema indices as well as Patient Satisfaction Scale (PSS) were used to assess improvement on each side separately. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference regarding the clinical improvement between the side treated with Fractional CO(2) laser and the side treated with Qs Nd:YAG and KTP lasers (P value >0.05). In most patients, both sides showed improvement during different sessions of therapy, as regards ANASI scores, melanin indices, patient satisfaction scores, and side effects. CONCLUSION: In this study, we concluded that both fractional CO(2) and Q-switched lasers proved to be a safe and effective line of treatment of acanthosis nigricans.