Active FX is safe to use on darker skin patients (Fitzpatrick type 4-5). However, there is some increased risk of pigmentation problems (ie hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation) that can be permanent. It is best to get a test spot first in an inconspicuous area to see if you have an adverse... more
Are Active FX laser treatments safe for use with dark skin or ethnic skin?
can Active FX Laser be used on dark skin types like latino males with shallow scars?
2 answers to “Are Active FX laser treatments safe...”
A: Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing can be done for Ethnic Skin by an experienced Dermatologist
Thanks to the evolution made in Fractional CO2 Laser technology, ethnic skin with acne scarring is no longer excluded from laser resurfacing. All Fractional CO2 Lasers performed comparably (e.g. DeepFx, Mixto, Fraxel Repair). However, to maximize clinical benefit and minimize potential complication such as... more
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5 posts
2 Sep 2008
The biggest concern that I have treating darker skin types with Active FX is called Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation. Basically, it is a general darkening of the skin that typically fades in a few months, but sometimes can persist. If your skin is fairly dark & the primary reason for treatment is acne or other scars, you may want to consider a Deep FX procedure, which is less likely to cause this problem. To review what you may already know, Bridge Therapy is a fractional CO2 laser procedure that basically uses 2 computer pulse generators (CPG) to make holes in the skin. The Active FX CPG makes bigger holes that go into the upper dermis & gives a "deep peel" for improvement in texture & tone. It also does a good job of stimulating collegen for the next 4-6 months. The Deep FX CPG makes holes 1/10th the diameter as Active FX, but goes 2-4x deeper to stimulate collegen & break up any scar tissue better than Active FX, but less improvement in texture & tone. In Bridge Therapy, a single CPG can be used for either an Active FX or Deep FX procedure, or they can be used in combination called Total FX. Acne scars are tough to treat. In my experience with my patients, I typically see about 20-25% improvement with Active FX, 25-30% improvement with Deep FX, & 35-40% improvement with Total FX.