A split-face study of moisturizer containing Centella asiatica extract after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing

Abstract

Background Ablative fractional CO2 laser treatment is popular for improving atrophic acne scars; however, complications after laser treatment are unavoidable. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of a moisturizer containing Cen-tella asiatica extract when applied after ablative fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. Methods A split-face study was conducted between September 2020 and December 2020 on 34 patients (16 females and 18 males) who were treated with ablative fractional CO2 laser resurfacing. After laser treatment, C. asiatica extract was applied to the right side of the face and purified water was applied to the left side. We compared the right and left sides of the face at various time points after laser treatment using an automatic skin analysis device to investigate the degree of moisture and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Results No significant difference in the degree of moisture was found between the two sides of the face immediately after laser treatment (P=0.059), but there was a significant difference at 1 and 4 hours after post-laser treatment care (P<0.001). Regarding post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, there was no significant difference between the two sides of the face before laser treatment (P=0.184), but a significant difference was found at 6 weeks after laser treatment (P<0.001). Conclusions Our results show that applying C. asiatica extract is a novel post-laser treatment modality that can provide satisfactory results without complications after ablative fractional CO2 laser resurfacing.