BOSTON, MA, April 19 -- The erbium:YAG (Er:YAG) laser can be as effective in removing wrinkles as the standard CO2 laser, and with fewer side effects, according to a study by the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). The report from April's Archives of Dermatology demonstrated that the Er:YAG did require more passes to achieve the same result as the CO2 laser; however, patients experienced less reddening of the skin and had significantly faster recovery times.The CO2 laser has been used for skin resurfacing since the early 1990s and is considered the gold standard of treatment. The Er:YAG laser was first used for treatment of wrinkles and other skin blemishes at the MGH Wellman Labs. It was approved by the FDA for laser resurfacing in 1997. This study is the first to directly compare the effectiveness and long-term results of treatment with the different lasers.