Erbium laser resurfacing: current concepts.
C Weinstein
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9950553/Actively Recruiting
Led by Massachusetts General Hospital · Updated on 2026-04-28
23
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
Researchers are evaluating whether the Difference Frequency Generation DFG laser causes less pain and faster wound healing compared to the Carbon Dioxide CO2 laser in healthy adults. The study also examines how each laser affects blood vessel characteristics in the skin using Optical Coherence Tomography OCT imaging. This research involves 23 healthy participants aged 18 years and older of any gender and skin type. Participants will receive laser treatments using both the DFG and CO2 lasers applied to their upper thighs. During the study, photography and pain scores will be recorded, and OCT imaging will be used to assess changes in the skins blood vessels. The study focuses on low fluence fractional ablation, and all procedures occur over several study visits. Throughout the study, participants will have pain measured using the Visual Analog Scale at 90 minutes post-treatment and wound healing tracked over one month. Researchers will also evaluate vessel density, length, and thickness via OCT imaging. The total study duration allows for comprehensive monitoring of healing and vascular changes, ensuring detailed assessment of both laser treatments.
CONDITIONS
A Comparative Clinical Study to Assess Pain Score and Wound Healing Following Fractional Ablation With a DFG Laser and CO2 Laser
A
Alicia Van Cott, NP
A
Amelia Carlson, BS
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here
Massachusetts General Hospital
Lead Sponsor
This table compares participation in this trial with other options available for this condition. The information is drawn from published research and the trial’s study details and is provided for educational purposes only.
| Factors | DFG Laser (Investigational) | CO2 Laser (Current Standard Fractional Laser) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A device-based fractional ablation procedure using a DFG laser, applied to a target skin area of the thigh. The DFG laser is being tested as a potentially less painful alternative to existing laser modalities. | Ablative fractional CO2 laser procedures are well-established for controlled skin resurfacing, dermatologic ablation, and vascular imaging applications. |
| Role in the trial | Investigational treatment arm, applied to one designated area of the upper thigh in each participant. Compared directly with CO2 laser-treated area in a paired design. | Acts as the comparator (current standard) treatment area in the paired within-participant design; outcome measures include pain score and wound healing compared to DFG laser. |
| Primary use | Evaluation of pain and wound healing responses after fractional ablation with the DFG laser. | Commonly used for fractional ablation and resurfacing of skin, including clinical evaluation of pain, healing, and tissue remodeling in dermatologic procedures. |
| How it is given or performed | Administered by trained personnel via targeted exposure to a marked area of the upper thigh. Application procedure follows the clinical trial protocol. | Standard CO2 fractional lasers are applied by dermatology professionals for targeted ablation. Treatment parameters are set according to established protocols for depth and coverage. |
| Evidence status | Currently under clinical investigation; no published comparative results for pain, healing, or vascular metrics at the time of trial registration. | Extensive published evidence for ablative fractional CO2 lasers demonstrates improvements in scar appearance, healing rates, and procedural pain across multiple dermatologic indications. |
| Important limitations | Limited by small sample size, single-site design, and lack of published outcome data. The DFG laser’s longer-term safety and effectiveness are not yet established. | CO2 fractional ablation may involve risks of pain, erythema, delayed healing, pigment change, and rare scarring, as reported in published studies of skin resurfacing. |
Disclaimer: This comparison is created with the help of artificial intelligence(AI) and may contain errors or missing information. It is not medical advice and does not mean one option is better or safer than another. Clinical trials are still being studied, and joining a trial is your choice. Please consult your healthcare professional before making any decisions.
You may qualify if you...
You will not qualify if you...
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Single treatment session
Participants receive laser treatments using both the DFG and CO2 lasers applied to the upper thighs, along with angiographic OCT imaging to assess dermal vasculature.
1 treatment visit with imaging and pain score assessments
Duration - Up to 1 month
Participants are monitored for wound healing and vessel changes using photography, pain scores, and OCT imaging.
Multiple follow-up visits during 1 month
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
1
Have more questions? Get in touch with our team for quick support
C Weinstein
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9950553/Jill S Waibel, Adam J Wulkan, Peter R Shumaker
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23460557/D Y Ko, K H Kim, K H Song
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24102369/Omer Ibrahim, Emily Wenande, Sara Hogan...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29154501/Kee-Hsin Chen, Ka-Wai Tam, I-Fan Chen...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28166434/E Victor Ross, Michael Swann, Seaver Soon...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19271372/S H Choi, K H Kim, K H Song
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25640401/Dieter Manstein, G Scott Herron, R Kehl Sink...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15216537/Michael Wang-Evers, Alyre J Blazon-Brown, Linh Ha-Wissel...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35395696/Kaiyang Lv, Huazhen Liu, Haiting Xu...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34322556/Massachusetts General Hospital
Lead Sponsor