Delayed ulceration following combination pulse dye laser and topical sirolimus treatment for port wine birthmarks: A case series.

Port wine birthmarks (PWB) are capillary vascular malformations within the papillary and reticular dermis, most commonly occurring on the head and neck and may darken and thicken with age. Pulsed dye laser (PDL) is the gold standard of treatment for PWB as it selectively targets involved vessels. Sirolimus is a macrolide antibiotic that selectively inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin, thereby suppressing the angiogenesis pathways that can be activated by PDL. Sirolimus and PDL may be used together to treat PWB. We present a case series describing three cases of delayed ulceration and systemic sirolimus absorption following combination therapy, highlighting a potential complication and patient safety concern.

The efficacy, satisfaction, and safety of carbon dioxide (CO2) fractional laser in combination with pulsed dye laser (PDL) versus each one alone in the treatment of hypertrophic burn scars: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

The tendency to use less-invasive laser-based methods with far more obvious effectiveness has been taken into consideration today for improvement of burning scars. The present study thus aimed to assess the efficacy of two laser-based techniques including pulsed dye laser (PDL) and ablative fractional CO2 laser (AFCL) and its combination on improving different aspects of burning scars regardless of the types of scar as hypertrophic or keloid scars. This randomized single-blinded clinical trial was performed on patients suffering hypertrophic or keloid burning scars. The patients were randomly assigned into three groups scheduling for treatment with PDL alone, AFCL alone, or its combination. All patients were visited before and 40 days after the last treatment session, and their scars were assessed. In all groups, significant improvement was revealed in the Vancouver scar scale (VSS) score, the color of scar, vascular bed in the scar, the and height of scar and its pliability; however, the improvement in each item was more highlighted in the group receiving a combination therapy with PDL and AFCL techniques. In this regard, the highest improvement was found in vascular bed and pliability in the combination therapy group as compared to other groups. Although the superiority of the combined group was not statistically significant, due to the high percentage of improvement in total VSS and most of its indicators, it can be clinically significant. The efficacy of the treatment protocols was different considering subgroups of mature and immature scars (less than 1 year), so that more improvement in pliability of scar, vascularity, and color of scar was found in the group scheduling for PDL + AFCL as compared to those who were treated with PDL alone in immature scar group but not in mature scar group. Combined treatment can be much more effective in improving the appearance and pathological characteristics of scars than each individual treatment. This effectiveness can be seen mainly in immature scars.

Efficacy and safety comparison between pulsed dye laser and intense pulsed light configured with different wavelength bands in treating erythematotelangiectatic rosacea.

Previous clinical studies have shown that pulsed dye laser (PDL) and intense pulsed light (IPL) are effective for treating erythematotelangiectatic rosacea(ETR). This article aims to compare the efficacy and safety of PDL and IPL at three different wavelength bands (broad-band, single-narrow-band, and dual-narrow-band) in treating ETR. Sixty subjects with ETR were randomly categorized into four groups and received one of the following laser treatments: PDL (595 nm), IPL with Delicate Pulse Light (DPL, 500-600 nm), IPL with M22 590 (590-1200 nm), or IPL with M22 vascular filter (530-650 nm and 900-1200 nm). Four treatment sessions were administered at 4-week intervals, with one follow-up session 4 weeks after the final treatment. The efficacy of the four lasers was evaluated by comparing the clinical symptom score, total effective rate, VISIA red area absolute score, and RosaQoL score before and after treatment. The safety was evaluated by comparing adverse reactions such as pain, purpura, erythematous edema, and blister. All 60 subjects completed the study. Within-group effects showed that the clinical symptom score, VISIA red area absolute score, and RosaQoL score of all four groups were significantly reduced compared to before treatment (p < 0.001). Between-group effects showed no statistically significant difference among the four laser groups. Safety analysis showed that all four lasers were safe, but the incidence of blister was higher in the M22 vascular group. Nonpurpurogenic PDL, DPL, M22 590, and M22 vascular were equally effective in treating ETR and were well-tolerated. ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: NCT05360251.

Comparative Treatment of Mucocutaneous Lesions in Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia Patients With Dual Sequential Pulsed Dye Laser and Neodymium: Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet Versus Neodymium: Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet Laser Alone: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study With Quality-of-Life Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is characterized by the presence of telangiectases and larger arteriovenous malformations in different organs. Mucocutaneous telangiectases can bleed and become an aesthetic concern, impairing quality of life (QoL). However, the best treatment approach has not been defined yet. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dual wavelength sequential 595/1064nm laser (DWSL) compared to 1064nm laser (Nd:YAG) alone. Secondarily, to evaluate QoL impairment in HHT patients, and its improvement with laser therapy. METHODS: A comparative randomized split-body double-blinded prospective study (DWSL vs Nd:YAG). Demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics were recorded. The severity and degree of improvement were evaluated by three blinded examiners who scored pre-treatment and post-treatment pictures on a 5-point scale. Patients fulfilled Skindex-29 and FACE-Q® tests and assessed procedure-associated pain and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: 111 treatment areas (55 treated with DWSL and 56 with Nd:YAG) from 26 patients were analyzed. The median number of laser sessions was 2 (interquartile range [IQR] 2-4; mean 2.90 vs 2.88, respectively). The median improvement score, irrespective of location, was significantly higher for Nd:YAG compared to DWSL: 3 (IQR 2-3; mean 2.61) vs 2 (IQR 2-3; mean 2.32), p=0.031. Both FACE-Q index and Skindex-29 test results improved significantly (p<0.001), and 92.4% patients reported a high degree of satisfaction (≥8). No severe adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: DWSL and Nd:YAG laser are convenient, safe and effective treatment options for mucocutaneous telangiectases in HHT patients. However, Nd:YAG delivered better results with better tolerability. QoL was significantly improved by both treatments.

Comparative Treatment of Mucocutaneous Lesions in Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia Patients With Dual Sequential Pulsed Dye Laser and Neodymium: Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet Versus Neodymium: Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet Laser Alone: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study With Quality-of-Life Evaluation. / [Artículo traducido] Tratamiento comparativo de lesiones mucocutáneas en pacientes con telangiectasia hemorrágica hereditaria con láser dual secuencial de colorante pulsado y neodimio: itrio-aluminio-granate versus neodimio: itrio-aluminio-granate solo: un estudio controlado aleatorizado doble ciego con evaluación de la calidad de vida.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is characterized by the presence of telangiectases and larger arteriovenous malformations in different organs. Mucocutaneous telangiectases can bleed and become an aesthetic concern, impairing quality of life (QoL). However, the best treatment approach has not been defined yet. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dual wavelength sequential 595/1064nm laser (DWSL) compared to 1064nm laser (Nd:YAG) alone. Secondarily, to evaluate QoL impairment in HHT patients, and its improvement with laser therapy. METHODS: A comparative randomized split-body double-blinded prospective study (DWSL vs Nd:YAG). Demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics were recorded. The severity and degree of improvement were evaluated by three blinded examiners who scored pre-treatment and post-treatment pictures on a 5-point scale. Patients fulfilled Skindex-29 and FACE-Q® tests and assessed procedure-associated pain and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: 111 treatment areas (55 treated with DWSL and 56 with Nd:YAG) from 26 patients were analyzed. The median number of laser sessions was 2 (interquartile range [IQR] 2-4; mean 2.90 vs 2.88, respectively). The median improvement score, irrespective of location, was significantly higher for Nd:YAG compared to DWSL: 3 (IQR 2-3; mean 2.61) vs 2 (IQR 2-3; mean 2.32), p=0.031. Both FACE-Q index and Skindex-29 test results improved significantly (p<0.001), and 92.4% patients reported a high degree of satisfaction (≥8). No severe adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: DWSL and Nd:YAG laser are convenient, safe and effective treatment options for mucocutaneous telangiectases in HHT patients. However, Nd:YAG delivered better results with better tolerability. QoL was significantly improved by both treatments.

Clinical evidence of 595 nm pulse dye laser treatment for viral warts on hands and feet.

BACKGROUND: Viral warts, induced by infection by different HPV genotypes, are highly frequent in the general population, particularly during infancy and among adolescents. The effectiveness of the 595 nm Pulse dye-laser in treating viral warts on the hands and feet in both adults and children was investigated in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A selection of 203 patients with multiple viral warts was made. All patients underwent 4-5 treatment sessions with a 595 nm pulse Dye Laser (PDL). Treatment outcome was assessed by a quartile scale: 1 indicates no or low results (0%-25% of the lesion area cleared), 2 indicates slight clearance (25%-50% of the lesion area cleared), 3 indicates moderate-good clearance (50%-75%), and 4 indicates excellent clearance (75%-100%). Patients were asked for a subjective evaluation of the perceived overall results by means of the following score: unsatisfied (1), not very satisfied (2), satisfied (3), and very satisfied (4). Possible side effects were monitored. Results obtained were judged with a photographic evaluation, immediately and at the control visit (6 months after the last laser session). RESULTS: All patients observed global improvements. Most of the lesions were completely removed after laser therapy. A total of 95% of patients achieved excellent clearance and they were very satisfied following the laser treatment. Relevant side effects were absent in all patients. CONCLUSION: PDL treatment with the study device using a wavelength of 595 nm has proven to be a tolerable and safe therapy for viral warts management.

Efficacy, tolerance and acceptability of pulsed dye laser on facial and neckline telangiectasias in systemic scleroderma: a prospective open-label monocentric study in 21 patients.

Facial and neckline telangiectasias have an underestimated yet important impact on quality of life of patients with systemic scleroderma (SSc). This monocentric, prospective, open-label, intra-patient comparative study was conducted in 21 consecutive patients with SSc. Patients underwent 4 sessions of PDL 8 weeks apart. A final quadruple assessment was performed by several raters 2 months after the last session, based on the following criteria: change in telangiectasia number; subjective improvement score (LINKERT scale); impact on the quality of life (QoL; SKINDEX score); visual analog pain scale; adverse effects (AEs), including treatment discontinuation for PDL-induced purpura and patient satisfaction. The mean telangiectasia number decreased by 5 (32%) at the end of the protocol. Eighteen patients (85.7%) reported an improvement or a strong improvement, versus 73.81% for the expert committee. Immediate session pain (mean = 3.4/10) was slightly less than overall pain (mean = 4.6/10). Ten patients (47%) experienced at least one AE (oozing/crusts, edema, epidermal blistering), including PDL-induced purpura in 3 patients (14%). AEs were mostly transient (<1 week) and mild (CTCAE grade 1). All QoL parameters improved after treatment, and 85% of patients were satisfied.

Complication rates and safety of pulsed dye laser treatment for port-wine stain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pulsed dye laser (PDL) is the most commonly used method for port-wine stain (PWS); however, no studies have reported the safety of PDL. This review aimed to collect and summarize complications reported in relevant literature, assess complication rates in treating PWS with PDL, and explore the relevant influencing factors. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to search for related studies in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library until August 2022. Two reviewers independently evaluated the risk of bias of included studies. Stata Software version 17.0 was used for the analysis. All complications reported in the literature are divided into acute phase complications and long-term complications. Overall pooled purpura, edema, crusting, blistering, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and scarring rates were 98.3%, 97.6%, 21.5%, 8.7%, 12.8%, 0.9%, and 0.2%, respectively. Although the acute adverse reactions were found to be common, the long-term permanent complications clearly have a lower frequency, and the occurrence of scarring is much lower than that initially thought. This indicates that effective protective measures after treatment are very important for preventing scar formation. Overall, PDL treatment for PWS shows a high level of safety and low chances of causing long-term complications.

Necrotizing Granulomatous Papular Reaction Following Multiple Pulsed Dye Laser and Hybrid Fractional Laser Treatments for Rosacea.

This is a case report of a single patient who had pulsed dye laser and hybrid fractional laser treatments for facial rosacea and subsequently developed a prolonged papular reaction in and adjacent to the area of treatment, which was unresponsive to topical therapy. Biopsies of these lesions revealed necrotizing granulomas. This is a previously unreported side effect of these laser treatments and clinicians should be aware of this potential sequela.

An exploration of optimal time and safety of 595-nm pulsed dye laser for the treatment of early superficial infantile hemangioma.

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is the most common benign vascular tumor that occurs in infants and young children. Studies have shown laser therapy to reduce the proliferation of superficial IH and promote its regression, but the optimal timing for treatment has not been determined. Our study explores the timing and safety of 595-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatment for early superficial IH. We retrospectively analyzed 180 cases of superficial IH treated with 595-nm PDL. Data was organized according to patient age at the first visit. Six months after the initial treatment, patients were evaluated using a grade IV classification method, and the clinical curative effect of each group was calculated. The number of laser treatments and the occurrence of adverse reactions were recorded simultaneously. The overall effective and cure rates were 98.3% and 84.4%, respectively, with no significant difference in rates between groups (p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the number of laser treatments among the age groups (p < 0.05). The average laser frequency: "0-2 months group" < "2-4 months group" < "4-6 months group." The overall incidence of adverse reactions was 11.1%, and 12 (6.7%) cases had short-term adverse reactions, with no statistically significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). Eight cases had long-term adverse reactions. This difference between groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Younger children (≤2 months of age) receiving 595-nm PDL treatment for IH require relatively fewer treatment times than other children (>2 months of age), have a shorter course of disease, experience better curative effect, and have fewer sequelae reactions.

Initial research on the effect and mechanism of Tivozanib on pulsed dye laser induced angiogenesis.

INTRODUCTION: Pulsed dye laser (PDL) is the main treatment for port wine stain (PWS), but a considerable number of patients show low clearances. The reason for the poor efficacy is related to PDL-induced angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in PDL-induced angiogenesis and can activate the tyrosine kinase activity of VEGF receptor (VEGFR) in endothelial cells. It triggers a full range of responses, and then participates in the regulation of angiogenesis. Tivozanib is an inhibitor of VEGFR tyrosine kinase activity, which can block the pro-angiogenic effect of VEGF and reduce vascular permeability. METHOD: Different energy densities of PDL were used to irradiate the abdominal skin of rats. According to the general and pathological changes of the irradiated area, the energy density of 8 J/cm2 with smaller scab and stronger vascular effect was selected for follow-up experiments. Divided the rat abdomen skin into four areas, irradiated three of them uniformly with an energy density of 8 J/cm2 , and applied different concentrations of Tivozanib coating agent to the laser irradiation area, and grouped them as follows: (1) vacant group, (2) control group, (3) 0.5% Tivozanib group, (4) 1% Tivozanib group. Camera and dermoscopy were used to observe skin changes. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining, and blood vessels were counted to detect dermal vascular regeneration. Transcriptome sequencing and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were conducted to elucidate the mechanism and validate the reliability. RESULTS: The number of blood vessels in the 0.5% Tivozanib group and 1% Tivozanib group was significantly reduced on the 7, 10, and 14 days compared with the control group. The number of blood vessels in the 1% Tivozanib group was significantly reduced compared with the 0.5% Tivozanib group, indicating that Tivozanib successfully inhibited PDL-induced angiogenesis, and the inhibitory effect of 1% Tivozanib was more significant than that of 0.5% Tivozanib. Transcriptome sequencing results showed a total of 588 significantly differentially expressed genes, including 90 upregulated genes and 498 downregulated genes. Gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that the significantly differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the metabolic pathways which were closely related to angiogenesis. Finally, real-time PCR was used to verify the genes with higher expression differences, the top ranking and closely related to angiogenesis, namely, Cxcl1, Cxcl2, Cxcl3, Cxcl6, Ccl3, Csf3, IL1ß, iNOS, Mmp9, Mmp13, Plau, Ets1, Spp1, Nr4a1. The results were consistent with the trend of transcriptome sequencing results, which proved the reliability of this study. CONCLUSION: This study explored the inhibitory effect of Tivozanib on PDL-induced angiogenesis, and provided a new idea for the treatment of clinical PWS. Transcriptome sequencing explored the mechanism and provided reliable clues for later in-depth research.

Efficacy and safety of pulsed dye laser for the treatment of surgical scars: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Various clinical trials have explored whether the pulsed dye laser (PDL) method is safe to treat scars, especially surgical scars. However, comprehensive evidence confirming the exact outcomes of PDL for treating surgical scars is lacking. The efficacy and safety of PDL in the treatment of surgical scars were determined through a review of several studies. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched, and the main clinical outcomes were Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) scores in terms of pigmentation, vascularity, pliability, and height. Review Manager 5.4 software was used for statistical analyses of the data; we chose a standardized mean difference (SMZ) to present the results with 95% confidence interval (CI). Overall, seven randomized controlled trials were used for this meta-analysis, all of these papers used 585 nm or 595 nm PDL with 7 mm or 10 mm spot size and a fluence of 3.5 to 10 J/cm2 for treating surgical scars; besides, the pulse duration ranged from 450 µs to 10 ms. We found that PDL significantly resulted in decreased VSS scores (P = 0.02) in four aspects: pigmentation (P = 0.0002), vascularity (P < 0.00001), pliability (P = 0.0002), and height (P = 0.0002). Moreover, scar improvement was similar when using 585 nm and 595 nm PDL in terms of pigmentation (P = 0.76), vascularity (P = 0.34), pliability (P = 0.64), and height (P = 0.57). Furthermore, our review indicated that PDL has no obvious adverse effects for most people, except transitory erythema and purpura. The meta-analysis showed that both 585 nm and 595 nm PDL therapy can effectively reduce the VSS score, suggesting that PDL can be a safe and effective method for the treatment of surgical scars.

Our experience in the treatment of hemangioma with intense pulsed light laser: A 10 year study in Albania.

Laser treatment brought an innovation in the treatment of hemangiomas and vascular anomalies. The range of superficial vascular lesions that can be treated with laser continues to expand. In our country laser device date relatively late, since then these technologies have facilitated the treatment of many skin condition. The goal of laser therapy is to maximize vascular destruction while minimizing injury to surrounding healthy epidermis and dermal tissues. We present our experience with IPL as a first line therapy in the treatment of superficial hemangiomas. After institutional review, board approval we analyzed the medical records of 202 patients diagnosed with hemangioma and treated with the IPL laser during January 2009 to January 2019. The performed procedure consists of using impulses of light with wave length that varies from 590 to 595 nm, duration 1.5 ms, and fluency by 11 to 12 J/cm2 . For each patient, four PDL sessions have been performed. We aim to evidence the efficacy and the good safety profile of (IPL) laser but with small adverse events that this treatment represent. The importance of proper patient selection, use of appropriate equipment settings, skin cooling mechanisms, and other safety measures minimize the occurrence of adverse events due to IPL treatment.

Satisfactory treatment of mucocutaneous lesions in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia patients with dual pulsed dye laser and neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is characterized by telangiectasia and larger arteriovenous malformations (AVM) in different organs. Mucocutaneous telangiectasia can bleed and cause stigmatization, but the best treatment approach has not been defined yet. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dual pulsed dye laser and neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (PDL-Nd:YAG) laser treatment for mucocutaneous telangiectasia in HHT patients. It is a retrospective case series, where clinical files of all HHT patients treated with PDL-Nd:YAG laser at our Department between December 2010 and July 2019 were reviewed. Demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics were recorded. The severity and degree of improvement were evaluated by three blinded examiners scoring pretreatment and posttreatment pictures on a 5-point scale. Patient satisfaction and procedure pain were assessed using an ordinal scale (0-10). Forty-three treatment areas from 26 patients were analyzed. Lesions were predominantly located on the lower lip and cheeks. The median number of laser sessions per patient was 3 (interquartile range [IQR] 2-4). The median global severity score at baseline was 2 and became 0 at endpoint (p < 0.0001), with a median improvement rate of 4 (IQR 3-4). All patients reported a high degree of satisfaction (median 9) and tolerable pain (median 5). In conclusion, dual PDL-Nd: YAG laser is a convenient, safe, and effective treatment option for mucocutaneous telangiectasia in HHT patients.

Laser therapy in cutaneous and genital warts: A review article.

Traditional treatment modalities for wart require long-term treatment course and usually have high recurrence rates and unwanted side effects. In this review article, we evaluated different types of laser therapy in the treatment of warts. Published articles since 2000 up to July 2020 about laser therapy in genital and non-genital warts were searched and assessed. Fifty articles were selected for the final review, including 22 pulsed dye laser (PDL), 10 neodymium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd: YAG), 3 erbium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er: YAG), 14 carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser and one systematic review. Complete response rates were different in terms of laser type used (0%-100%, 9.1%-100%, 83.3%-100%, and 59.15%-100% for PDL, Nd: YAG, Er: YAG, and CO2 laser, respectively). There was no significant difference between conventional treatment modalities and laser therapy regarding efficacy and recurrence rate. Combination of lasers with keratolytic agents, immunomodulators and photodynamic therapy can be helpful especially in immunosuppressed patients, refractory, and recurrent lesions. PDL has the lowest occurrence of adverse effects relative to other types of lasers.

Pulsed Dye Laser-mediated Photodynamic Therapy is Less Effective than Conventional Photodynamic Therapy for Actinic Field Cancerization: A Randomized Half-side Comparative Study.

Previous research presents pulsed dye laser-mediated photodynamic therapy as a promising alternative to conventional red-light photodynamic therapy. In this study, 60 patients with 2 or more actinic keratoses randomly received either of these treatments on each side of the head. A physician blinded to the treatment evaluated treatment response at 6 months for each lesion, as completely, partially or not healed. Significantly lower complete clearance rates (10.3% vs 44.9%) and lesion-specific complete clearance rates were found for pulsed dye laser-mediated photodynamic therapy (47.9%) vs conventional red-light photodynamic therapy (73.4%). Significantly lower pain scores were found for pulsed dye laser-mediated photodynamic therapy, with a mean numerical rating of 2.3, compared with 4.1 for conventional red-light photodynamic therapy. The study population had a mean of 7.9 lesions, and 78% of patients had been treat-ed previously for actinic keratoses on the treatment area. To conclude, in a population with severe sun dam-age, pulsed dye laser-mediated photodynamic therapy seems less effective than conventional red-light photo-dynamic therapy. Pulsed dye laser-mediated photodynamic therapy may still be a treatment option for patients who are not compliant with conventional red-light photodynamic therapy.

Pulsed dye laser versus Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of recalcitrant plantar warts: an intraindividual comparative study.

Plantar warts are common cutaneous lesions caused by the human papillomavirus. Treatment of recalcitrant plantar warts stays a continuous challenge, and they are more refractory to treatment than common warts. To compare the efficacy of Long-Pulsed neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser versus pulsed dye laser (PDL) on the therapy of multiple recalcitrant plantar warts. Thirty patients with recalcitrant plantar warts were included in the current study. Half the number of warts were treated by PDL in each patient, while the other half were treated by Nd:YAG. Laser sessions were applied every 2 weeks for a maximum of six sessions. Patients were followed up both clinically and using dermoscopy. There was a complete clearance of warts in 20 patients (66.7%) with Nd:YAG laser and 19 patients (63.3%) with PDL with no statistically significant difference between both types of lasers. Pain during laser sessions was higher with Nd:YAG laser PDL and it was statistically significant (p = .0001). Both Nd:YAG laser and PDL showed efficacy and safety for the treatment of recalcitrant plantar warts. The use of dermoscopy adds great value in evaluating treatment response and in decreasing the incidence of recurrence.

Efficacy and Safety of the 532-nm KTP and Long-Pulsed 1064-nm Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser for Treatment of Vascular Malformations.

BACKGROUND: Pulsed dye lasers (PDLs) are well-established for treatment of capillary malformations but are unable to penetrate the depth needed to treat deeper vascular lesions. A combined approach using a deeper penetrating wavelength with a "superficial" wavelength could more comprehensively treat vascular malformations than PDL alone. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the long-pulsed 1064-nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (LP 1064-nm Nd:YAG) in conjunction with the 532-nm potassium titanyl phosphate (532-nm KTP) laser wavelengths for treatment of capillary venous and venous malformations. METHODS: In this retrospective single-center study, we queried patient records who underwent treatment with the 532-nm KTP and LP 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser wavelengths. A blinded panel of 3 physicians evaluated improvement in lesion color, elevation, texture, and overall architecture on a four-point scale: 0% to 25%; 26% to 50%, 51% to 75%, and 76% to 100%. RESULTS: Our cohort consisted of 23 cases. Sixteen cases had sufficient information for clinical assessment. Treatment number and parameters varied depending on lesion, skin type, and end point. Clinical assessment of treatment effectiveness revealed average scores of 51% to 75% improvement for color, elevation, texture, and overall architecture. CONCLUSION: This study illustrates that 2 wavelengths, 532-nm KTP to target superficial components and LP 1064-nm Nd:YAG for deeper components, can safely and effectively treat both capillary venous and venous malformations.

Short pulse intense pulsed light versus pulsed dye laser for the treatment of facial redness.

Treating diffuse facial redness with an intense pulsed light (IPL) source usually requires multiple sessions and may not achieve complete clearance. The 595 nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) enjoys a good reputation for reducing facial redness with non-purpuric settings. The objective of this study was to compare facial redness reduction using these two devices. After establishing the lowest light dose able to achieve transient purpura for the same pulse width of 1,5 ms with each technology, right and left sides of the face were randomly assigned for each type of treatment. There were two treatment sessions 4 weeks apart and the final evaluation was performed 8 weeks after thesecond treatment. Four blinded experienced dermatologists analyzed pre and post-treatment photographs, which demonstrated an average of 60% improvement on the segment treated with the IPL as opposed to 45% on the other segment. Pain level was described as mild and the procedure was well tolerated for both types of treatment. In this study we showed that short-pulsed intense pulsed light and PDL are similar in decreasing facial redness when non-purpuric low fluence settings are used. The IPL was faster and did not have consumables.

Observation on the effects of 595- nm pulsed dye laser and 755- nm long-pulsed alexandrite laser on sequential therapy of infantile hemangioma.

BACKGROUND: Infantile hemangioma (IH) can lead to severe complications. The 595-nm pulsed dye laser is poorly effective on thick and deep IH. Long-pulsed alexandrite laser has the proper wavelength of 755 nm and a relatively deep penetration. Thus, this may be a safe and effective treatment method for relatively deep or thick IH. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine whether 595-nm pulsed dye laser and 755-nm long-pulsed alexandrite laser in sequential therapy are safer and more effective for relatively deep or thick hemangioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study. A total of 194 infantile IH patients (thickness greater than 2 mm and less than 8 mm) were randomly divided into two groups: control group (treated using 595-nm pulsed dye laser) and experimental group (treated by sequential therapy with 755-nm long-pulsed alexandrite laser and 595-nm dye laser). RESULTS: The control group had a total effective rate of 36.1%, while the experimental group had a total effective rate of 76.3%. Enumeration data were compared by X2 -test. The results were considered statistically significant at P < .05. CONCLUSION: Sequential therapy with 755-nm pulsed dye laser and 595-nm long-pulsed alexandrite laser is a safe and effective treatment approach for relatively deep or thick hemangioma.