Fractional Ablative Carbon Dioxide Lasers for the Treatment of Morphea: A Case Series and Literature Review

Morphea is an inflammatory, immune-mediated disease of unknown aetiology. It is characterised by excessive collagen deposition, which leads to the hardening of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. The disease is associated with cosmetic and functional impairment, which can affect the patients’ quali...

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Published inInternational journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 19; no. 13; p. 8133
Main Authors Klimek, Paulina, Placek, Waldemar, Owczarczyk-Saczonek, Agnieszka
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 02.07.2022
MDPI
Subjects
Atrophy
Carbon dioxide
Case Report
Collagen
Contraindications
Dermatology
Disease
Fibroblasts
Laboratories
Lasers
Manipulative therapy
Patients
Scleroderma
Skin
Ultrasonic imaging
Denmark
Online AccessGet full text
ISSN1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI10.3390/ijerph19138133

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Summary:Morphea is an inflammatory, immune-mediated disease of unknown aetiology. It is characterised by excessive collagen deposition, which leads to the hardening of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. The disease is associated with cosmetic and functional impairment, which can affect the patients’ quality of life. Fractional ablative lasers (FALs) are currently used for the treatment of many skin diseases that are connected to tissue fibrosis due to the low risk of side effects and their great effectiveness. This study aimed to improve the aesthetic defects that are caused by morphea lesions and assess the efficacy and safety of FAL use in this indication. We also reviewed the literature on the subject. We present four women with biopsy-proven morphea, manifesting as hyperpigmented plaques and patches. One of the patients additionally had morphea-related knee joint contracture. Four fractional CO2 laser sessions, separated by one-month intervals, were performed and produced significant improvements in dyspigmentation and induration. An improved elasticity and a decrease in dermal thickness were also obtained, as proven by measurements using DermaLab Combo. No severe adverse effects occurred. Based on these cases presented by the authors, fractional CO2 lasers appear to be an effective, well-tolerated, and safe therapeutic option for patients suffering from morphea.
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ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph19138133