Fractional laser resurfacing has become a very popular approach for the treatment of photoaged skin. This issue of the Journal starts with Tarijian's excellent review of fractional ablative approaches to laser resurfacing. Following this are 2 papers on the perplexing difficulties associated with the treatment of melasma. Seghal looks at treatment strategies for the treatment of melasma while Brown looks at an increasingly popular melasma treatment approach – multiple treatment, low fluence Q-switched Nd: YAG laser treatment.
Laser hair removal continues to be extraordinarily popular throughout the world. Gold describes a comparative study using 2 different diode lasers. Following this are 2 studies exploring different approaches to non-surgical body contouring. Adatto describes, in a randomized control study, body shaping undertaken with acoustic wave therapy while Hexsel evaluates a combination bipolar radiofrequency vacuum and mechanical massage approach to the treatment of cellulite.
Laser and light based acne treatments are increasingly being evaluated. Pancar Yuksel describes the use of an in-office KTP laser treatment while Gold investigates a home use blue light therapy approach to acne treatment. The final paper in this issue is an animal study that looks at the effect of LED irradiation on third-degree burns. Enjoy!