Variants of milia successfully treated with CO(2) laser vaporization.

BACKGROUND: Milia are a usual consultation in dermatologic practice and optimal treatment modalities are not established. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of CO(2) laser vaporization in the treatment of milia. METHODS: We report four patients, aged from 12 to 50 years old, with different variants of milia: milia en plaque, milia post-photodermatitis, multiple eruptive milia and milia post-trauma. They were treated with the CO(2) laser in superpulsed and focused mode at 2 W/cm(2), with two passes in each session. The follow-up was 12-36 months. RESULTS: All patients showed marked improvement after a few sessions of CO(2) laser. No-one had recurrence or noticeable side effects. CONCLUSION: The CO(2) laser is an option in adult and child patients with multiple milia lesions or milia en plaque, obtaining good cosmetic results with minimal side effects.

Keratosis pilaris atrophicans: treatment with intense pulsed light in four patients.

BACKGROUND: Keratosis pilaris atrophicans (KPA) is a group of disorders characterized by erythematous keratotic papules followed by atrophy on the face. The treatment is often unsatisfactory. METHODS: Four white women, with ages ranging from 14 to 20 years, were treated with an intense pulsed light (IPL) system with a cut filter of 570 nm. The power density was between 40 and 47 J/cm(2), divided into two pulses of 3 ms, with a delay between both of 20 ms. Patients received five to nine sessions. RESULTS: Clinical improvement was noted in all patients, with a reduction of erythema in treated areas of between 75% and 100%. Treatment was well tolerated and no adverse reactions were observed. After a follow-up of 10 months no recurrence was observed. In addition, in parallel mode to erythema improvement, a reduction of roughness was observed. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest IPL should be considered as a safe treatment option in patients with KPA.

Disseminated classic Kaposi's sarcoma. Two cases with excellent response to pegylated liposomal doxorubicin.

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) is usually used in disseminated HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). It is the first-line treatment or second-line therapy in patients who do not tolerate or do not respond to polychemotherapy since 1995, when it was approved by the FDA. We report two cases of disseminated classic KS not associated with immunosuppression in which HHV-8 infection was demonstrated. They showed an excellent response to PLD, with good tolerance and an absence of side effects.