Factors affecting the outcome of fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing of various types of scars in skin of color

Background Fractional laser resurfacing has been used widely in management of scars. However, data for post-traumatic and post-burn scar are limited in skin of color. Aims This retrospective study assessed the efficacy of fractional ablative carbon dioxide laser in treatment of various types of scars other than acne scars. We also tried to find out the effect of different factors like skin type, duration, shape, location, and color of the scars on the outcome. Materials and methods Forty-two patients with 67 scars including post-traumatic (43), post-burn (15), post-surgical (5), and post-folliculitis (5) scars treated during 2019-2020 were analyzed. The improvement was graded according to investigator and patient global assessment (IGA & PGA) through percentage improvement and quartile scale. Results Overall, there was 45.4% and 32.7% of improvement according to PGA and IGA, respectively. Scars with >50% improvement were recorded in 13.43% of the scars with IGA and 41.78% with PGA. Early scars, scars without hyperpigmentation, lighter skin type, post-traumatic scars had better results. There was no significant difference for other parameters like atrophic versus hypertrophic, facial versus extra facial, linear versus non-linear, or the number of sessions. Conclusion Fractional carbon dioxide laser efficacious for non-acne facial and extra facial scars in the skin of color. Early intervention could yield more satisfactory results.