ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Fractional photothermolysis is a technology developed by Anderson and Manstein that removes fractions of the skin instead of wiping away the entire layer.(1) The benefits of fractional resurfacing include faster recovery time and lower rates of complications compared with traditional laser resurfacing. As with traditional laser resurfacing, different media may be utilized for fractional resurfacing. At the present time, the two most popular media for fractional resurfacing are carbon dioxide (CO2) and erbium. Both target water and both vaporize the skin efficiently. The CO2 laser penetrates to a deeper level than does erbium. These differences in depth of penetration have significant import with respect to the treatment of acne scars. Deeper scars may require the CO2 fractional laser, while more superficial ones may be amenable to erbium.
