Transepidermal elimination of elastic fibers after carbon dioxide laser resurfacing. A report of two cases.

[BACKGROUND] Laser resurfacing for rhytides and dermatoheliosis is becoming more popular. As more procedures are performed, new side effects and complications are reported.

[METHODS] We report two cases of transepidermal elimination of elastic fibers after laser resurfacing with the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser for rhytides. Both patients presented with yellow to violaceous papules (one with papules near the lateral eyelid margins, and one with papules over the forehead and cheeks) at 18-22 days after laser resurfacing. Biopsy specimens were taken from both patients and revealed transepidermal elastic fiber elimination.

[CONCLUSION] To our knowledge, this has not been reported in the literature previously. We report these cases to make the clinician aware of this potential side effect after laser resurfacing and review the literature on side effects and complications of laser skin resurfacing as well as associations with transepidermal elimination of elastic fibers.