Epidermal cell outgrowth from CO2 laser- and scalpel-cut explants: implications for wound healing.

We set out to determine if the slow healing of CO2 laser-incised skin wounds compared with that of scalpel-incised wounds is the result of an inhibitory effect of the CO2 laser energy on the rate of epithelialization. We compared the rate of epidermal outgrowth from laser- and scalpel-cut explants in vitro. The onset of epidermal cell outgrowth (epiboly) from CO2 laser-incised skin was delayed, but there was no difference in the rate of epidermal cell outgrowth. These studies suggest that a delay in onset of epidermal migration, not a decreased rate of epidermal migration, contributes to the slower epithelialization of CO2 laser-incised skin wounds.