Another approach to actinic keratosis management using nonablative fractional laser

摘要

In an earlier issue, Drs. Prens et al. (1) have presented another method to address the need for a more perfect field therapy in the treatment of multiple actinic keratoses (AK). They note that the nonablative fractional laser in association with topical tretinoin provides an efficacious alternative compared to current accepted technologies while limiting patient comorbidities including pain, "down time", hypo and hyperpigrnentation, scarring, and prolonged healing. We applaud the authors' effort and only wish the ideal of the "perfect mousetrap" had been achieved. The notion inaccurately attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson (2) that if you "build a better mousetrap the world will beat a path to your door" has long encapsulated the spirit of innovation driving new and better technologies throughout the world. In the US alone there has been more than 4400 patents issued for mousetraps. While at first ominous to the mice about to be dispatched, they should find solace as with so many options there isn't likely one clearly superior device.