Scar wars: Pinhole ablation with super-pulse carbon dioxide for papular scars

Objectives: To assess the safety, efficacy, and therapeutic outcomes of the pinhole CO 2 laser technology for treating papular acne scars over face. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken on 65 patients who presented with papular acne scars. To treat each papular lesion, superpulse CO 2 laser pulses were applied through pinholes. Sessions were scheduled at 4-6 weeks intervals. Clinical improvement was measured using the global scoring system (GSS), physician visual evaluation (PVE), and standardised photography during baseline and follow-up visits over a three-month period. Results: A total of 65 individuals (mean age: 30) received treatment. Over 80% of patients showed significant clinical improvement, including a reduction in scar height and contour irregularity. Only minor side effects were seen, notably transitory erythema and oedema. No cases of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or scarring were documented. Conclusion: The pinhole CO 2 laser technique is a safe, precise, and successful method for treating papular acne scars. Its targeted ablation technique allows controlled tissue remodelling with minimal downtime, making it an important addition to the treatment for acne scars.