Ultrapulsed CO2 Resurfacing of Photodamaged Facial Skin in Vegan and Omnivore Patients: A Multicentric Study

Background and Objectives: Skin photoaging is related to extrinsic environmental exposures, mainly represented by ultraviolet radiation. One of the treatment options is laser resurfacing. As nutritional status is involved in cutaneous photodamage, we evaluated whether dietary patterns can also influence the response to facial resurfacing. Our prospective multicentric study involves three dermatologic centers specialized in laser therapy in northern Italy. The study aims to compare the outcome of a CO2 ablative laser therapy between omnivore and vegan patients. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Fifty-three omnivore and fifty-three vegan women undergoing ultrapulsed CO2 resurfacing for photodamaged facial skin were enrolled in this study. Clinical improvement was evaluated 3 and 6 months after the treatment using the modified Dover score. Results: After laser treatment, vegans showed slower complete re-epithelialization (P < 0.001*) and disappearance of the erythema (P < 0.001*). After 3 and 6 months, vegans showed worse outcomes in terms of fine lines (P < 0.001* and P < 0.001*, respectively) and tactile roughness (P = 0.003* and ​​​​P = 0.002*, respectively) compared with omnivores, while they did not differ in mottled pigmentation. Conclusions: The present study suggests that diet influences the clinical outcome of fractioned CO2 laser treatment. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.