Fractional CO2 laser for the management of a post-burn facial scar in a pediatric patient: A case report

Post-burn scars are an important cause of long-term physical, functional, cosmetic, and psychological morbidity, particularly when they involve the face. Facial scars in children may have additional implications because of their visibility and the prolonged period of scar maturation during growth. Fractional ablative carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser therapy has emerged as a minimally invasive modality for improving scar characteristics, including thickness, texture, pliability, pigmentation, and vascularity.In this report the case of a 9-year-old boy with a post-burn facial scar who was treated with fractional ablative CO₂ laser has been discussed. The scar was assessed using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), with a baseline score of 6. Following fractional CO₂ laser treatment, the VSS score decreased to 4 at three weeks, demonstrating early improvement in the clinical characteristics of the scar. This case highlights the potential role of fractional CO₂ laser therapy in the management of post-burn facial scars in pediatric patients.