Since dermal collagen, instead of epidermal structures, has proved to be the actual target of skin resurfacing,1 efforts have been made to establish an effective laser treatment of facial rhytids with epithelial preservation. We report the treatment results in 12 cases in which a pulsed 585-nm laser that was recently recommended for wrinkle treatment was used.
Twelve patients (Fitzpatrick skin types I-II) with moderate to severe facial rhytids underwent a single treatment along their wrinkle lines with a new 585-nm laser (NLite; SLS Ltd, Llanelli, Wales) at an energy density of 2.5 J/cm2. Wrinkle reduction and changes of general skin appearance were documented by the treating physician, who compared pretreatment photographs (Figure 1) with clinical examination findings and follow-up photographs at 2 and 4 months (Figure 2). The results were graded according to a graduated scale (−1, worsening; 0, no change; 1, mild improvement; 2, moderate improvement; and 3, excellent improvement). The patients were asked to give a subjective evaluation according to the same scale. After 6 months, they were also asked to evaluate the final treatment results by means of a questionnaire (same rating scale), as most of them did not wish to make an additional visit.