Superficial dermabrasion and suction blister epidermal grafting for postburn dyspigmentation in Asian skin

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The effective treatment of postburn dyspigmentation, which is more common in non-Caucasian populations, is a challenge for all surgeons. OBJECTIVE: We tried to evaluate an alternative surgical method of superficial dermabrasion and suction blister epidermal grafting, its efficacy, and its outcome, for the treatment of postburn dyspigmentation disorders in Asians. METHODS: We applied superficial dermabrasion as a deepithelialization process on dyspigmented areas of skin and simultaneous suction blister epidermal grafting to providing pure epidermis. Twenty-three cases were included in our study. RESULTS: All of the epidermal grafts took completely within 4 or 5 days after surgery without hematoma or delayed wound healing in any case. Skin color and surface irregularity improved remarkably in all cases and blended in well with the surrounding skin. Postoperative complications, such as peripheral hypopigmentation, delayed hyperpigmentation, milia, inclusion cysts, achromic fissures, prolonged erythema, and scar deformity, were not observed in any of the cases during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Our method of combined modalities had a synergistic effect on the treatment of postburn dyspigmentation. The authors suggest that superficial dermabrasion with simultaneous epidermal grafting should be considered as an alternative method for the treatment of postburn dyspigmentation disorders. © 2007 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.