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New laser treatment sheds light on
sun-damaged skin
Breakthrough technology FDA-approved
for clinical use
BOSTON - September 27, 2004 - Researchers at the Wellman
Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)
have created a new laser technology that can be used to treat the
wrinkles and skin discoloration of sun-damaged skin. Dieter Manstein,
MD, and Rox Anderson, MD, director of Wellman and the MGH Dermatology
Laser Center developed the concept of Fractional Photothermolysis,
or Fraxel ™ Laser Treatment (FLT), to resurface skin without
the downtime, side effects and/or infection risks of traditional
ablative resurfacing techniques and chemical peels.
Fractional Photothermolysis works by applying laser energy to the
surface of the skin a fraction at a time, creating micro thermal
zones (MTZ) that are so small they are invisible to the naked eye.
Areas of unaffected healthy tissue, which contain viable cells that
promote rapid healing of the outer skin layers, separate the MTZ.
Unlike the lengthy healing process of ablative resurfacing, which
damages an entire layer of skin, this treatment has proven in clinical
studies to be well tolerated - patients may even apply make-up immediately
after treatment and return to routine activities within a day or
two.
"I am excited about the clinical benefits that the Fraxel ™
laser may provide, " states Sandy Tsao, MD, MGH Dermatology
Laser Center. "With this new approach, patients are likely
to experience a softening of facial wrinkles and lightening of uneven
pigmentation. Other potential benefits include the improvement of
stretch marks, acne scarring and hand wrinkles. The recovery is
minimal and benefits increased after a few treatments," Tsao
adds.
The Fraxel ™ laser system recently was approved by the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) for dermatological procedures requiring
the coagulation of soft tissue and for treatment of periorbital
(around the eye) wrinkles and pigmented lesions (including age spots,
sun spots and skin discoloration). Reliant Technologies supported
the research.
Massachusetts General Hospital, established in 1811, is the original
and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The MGH
conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the United
States, with an annual research budget of more than $400 million
and major research centers in AIDS, cardiovascular research, cancer,
cutaneous biology, medical imaging, neurodegenerative disorders,
transplantation biology and photomedicine. In 1994, MGH and Brigham
and Women's Hospital joined to form Partners HealthCare System,
an integrated health care delivery system comprising the two academic
medical centers, specialty and community hospitals, a network of
physician groups, and nonacute and home health services.
Media Contact: Donita
Boddie , MGH Public Affairs
Physician Referral Service: 1-800-388-4644
Information about Clinical Trials
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