Salicylic acid plus laser treatment improved photoaging scores more than laser alone
A trial comparing opposite facial sides favored combined treatment, but the abstract leaves the size of any visible benefit, durability and safety details unclear.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Adding a salicylic acid regimen to laser treatment produced a larger average reduction in photoaging scores than laser alone in this trial. The result applies to the combined package of peels and daily applications. The abstract does not establish how noticeable or lasting the additional improvement was, or provide detailed safety results.
The abstract gives no adverse-event counts or confidence intervals for the main comparison. Because peels and daily applications were added together, their separate contributions cannot be determined.
What researchers found
Average reduction in photoaging scores
Combined treatment versus laser alone (P < 0.001). Post-treatment assessment timing and the scoring scale were not specified.
How treatments were compared
Each participant received both approaches on randomly assigned facial sides. Both sides received thulium fiber laser treatment; the combination side also received supramolecular salicylic acid peels and daily applications, while the other received a placebo preparation.
What the scores show
These percentages describe changes in photoaging scores. Other skin measurements, including pigmentation, hydration and elasticity, were described as improved, but the abstract provides no numerical results or threshold for changes noticeable to participants.
The original publication
Efficacy of combined 1927 nm thulium fiber laser and supramolecular salicylic acid in photoaging treatment.
Qiao S, Gao Z, Yang M et al.
Lasers Med Sci · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40960645
- Record checked
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