Safety and efficacy of intense pulsed light therapy combined with fractional laser therapy for scar management: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Wound healing is a complex process, and various factors can disrupt this process, leading to non-healing wounds or scarring. Conventional treatments for scar management often have low efficacy and high recurrence rates. The combination of intense pulsed light (IPL) and fractional laser therapy (FLT) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative with promising results. The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined IPL + FLT therapy and to manage pathological scars.
METHODS: This study followed PRISMA guidelines. Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library up to December 2025. Studies involving patients with pathological scars treated using combination IPL and FLT were included.
RESULTS: Five studies met the eligibility criteria, comprising 3 randomized controlled trials, 1 retrospective cohort study, and 1 case series, totaling 288 patients. Across all studies, combination therapy produced significant reductions in POSAS, MSS, and VSS scores in hypertrophic and postoperative scars. One study reported significantly higher patient satisfaction rates (p<0.05). Adverse effects were minimal, primarily mild transient erythema.
CONCLUSION: Combined FLT and IPL safely enhance scar appearance, with low adverse effect rates, offering an effective and minimally invasive therapeutic option.

Keywords: Keloid; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic; Laser Therapy; Intense Pulsed Light Therapy