Laser resurfacing of the skin for the improvement of facial acne scarring

Jordan R, Cummins C, Burls A
Record ID 31999008502
English
Authors' objectives:

To assess the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of laser resurfacing of the skin for the improvement of facial acne scarring.

Authors' results and conclusions: Current primary evidence of the effectiveness of laser resurfacing is of very poor quality. There are no randomised trials and information is only available from small case series that do not provide good estimates for the main benefits or disbenefits. In addition there is no good research evidence about the psychological effects of acne scarring, although there is good evidence for the psychological effects of active acne.
Authors' recommendations: Poor quality evidence indicates that there is some improvement of acne scarring with laser resurfacing techniques. There is not enough evidence to compare the two types of laser adequately; RCTs are required to compare the impact of treatments on patient quality of life.
Authors' methods: Systematic review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-mds/haps/projects/WMHTAC/REPreports/1998/laser_resurfacing.pdf
Year Published: 1998
URL for published report: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/mds/projects/HaPS/PHEB/WMHTAC/REP/reports-list.aspx
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England
MeSH Terms
  • Acne Vulgaris
  • Laser Therapy
  • Lasers
  • Cicatrix
  • Skin
Contact
Organisation Name: West Midlands Health Technology Assessment Collaboration
Contact Address: Elaena Donald-Lopez, West Midlands Health Technology Assessment Collaboration, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT Tel: +44 121 414 7450; Fax: +44 121 414 7878
Contact Name: louise.a.taylor@bham.ac.uk
Contact Email: louise.a.taylor@bham.ac.uk
Copyright: University of Birmingham
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.