BACKGROUND: Oxygen is an essential element for collagen synthesis and reepithelialization. The use of topical oxygen after CO2 laser resurfacing has not been studied.OBJECTIVE: To compare the rate and quality of healing in wounds treated with an oxygen mist to those treated with occlusive dressing following CO2 laser resurfacing.METHODS: Three patients underwent CO2 laser resurfacing to each half of the face 3 weeks apart. Postoperatively, half of the face was treated with an oxygen mist protocol for 5 days, while the other half was treated with occlusive dressing for 4 days.RESULTS: At postoperative day 5, significantly less crusting was observed on the half of the face treated with the oxygen mist protocol (p < 0.05).CONCLUSION: The oxygen mist postoperative protocol may offer patients similar overall healing rates and significantly less crusting compared to occlusive dressing.
Aged Face