Authors: Batra R.S.¹; Dover J.S.²; Hobbs L.³; Phillips T.J.⁴

Source: Dermatologic Surgery, Volume 29, Number 1, January 2003 , pp. 43-48(6)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

BACKGROUND.

Recent studies indicate that exogenous estrogens may promote wound healing. Many laser skin resurfacing (LSR) patients use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). OBJECTIVE.

To evaluate the effect of exogenous estrogen on LSR postoperative healing. METHODS.

This is a retrospective case control study of 44 female patients who underwent combination CO₂/Er:YAG full-face LSR. Sixteen postmenopausal patients using oral HRT during procedure and follow-up were compared with 16 controls. Six premenopausal patients on estrogen-containing OCPs during the procedure and follow-up were compared with six controls. Case and control groups were matched by age, skin type, and treatment technique. Premenopausal and postmenopausal groups were compared. The variables evaluated included erythema, swelling, crusting, purpura, pain, pruritus, reepithelialization, complications, and patient assessment of outcome. RESULTS.

For premenopausal and postmenopausal women, there were no significant differences in outcome measures of postoperative morbidity between groups receiving and not receiving estrogen. The incidence of complications, time until re-epithelialization, and patient assessment of outcome were similar between groups. CONCLUSION.

Our findings suggest that exogenous estrogen in the form of HRT or OCPs does not clinically alter postoperative progress in combination CO₂/Er:YAG LSR patients. Premenopausal women heal comparably to postmenopausal women after LSR.

R.S. Batra, MD, MSc, MPH, J.S. Dover, MD, FRCPC, L. Hobbs, MD, and T.J. Phillips MD, FRCPC have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1524-4725.2003.29011.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, 2: SkinCare Physicians of Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, Section of Dermatologic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, and Department of Medicine, Dartmou 3: Division of Dermatology, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, and 4: Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts

Publication date: 2003-01-01

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