Synergistic Sequential Emission of Fractional 1540 nm and 10 600 Lasers for Abdominal Postsurgical Scar Management: A Clinical Case Report.

BACKGROUND Abdominal scars can develop following abdominoplasty interventions and can cause severe functional and aesthetic disabilities. Surgery is almost no longer necessary thanks to the accessibility of more recent and sophisticated technology like lasers. Many ablative and non-ablative photothermolysis technologies and equipment have been developed, giving patients and medical professionals more alternatives but also complicating the system to be utilized and the methods to maximize the outcomes. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the volumetric action of 1540 wavelength and the efficacy and safety of the synergic sequential application of a new fractional ablative 10 600 nm CO2 and non-ablative 1540 nm lasers on abdominal postsurgical scar management. CASE REPORT We treated a female patient with an abdominal suprapubic scar following abdominoplasty. The patient underwent 3 treatment sessions (with a frequency of 1 session every 50 days) with 1 pass over the entire suprapubic area using 10 600 nm CO2 fractional laser emission and 1540 fractional laser emission in simultaneous modality. A photographic evaluation was made to monitor the effect of the treatment on the aesthetic appearance of the patient's suprapubic scar. After 6 months, the photographic assessment showed a significant improvement in scar texture and color. No patient pain or adverse effects were detected. CONCLUSIONS This case report describes the possibility of effectively treating abdominal suprapubic scars following abdominoplasty surgery with simultaneous and combined irradiation of 10 600 nm and 1540 nm wavelengths.

Psychopathological Variables and Sleep Quality in Psoriatic Patients.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease frequently associated with psychiatric disturbances and sleep disorders. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of depression, interaction anxiety, audience anxiety, and sleep quality in psoriatic patients. One hundred and two psoriatic patients were enrolled and underwent the following questionnaires: Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Interaction Anxiousness Scale (IAS), Audience Anxiousness Scale (AAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The severity of skin lesions was assessed by Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI). The presence of a link between clinical variables and with demographic data has been investigated. Psoriasis was linked to depression, interaction and audience anxiety, as well as to poor sleep quality; 37.5% of patients were depressed, 46.1% scored above 37 at the IAS, 47.1% scored above 33 at the AAS. Thirty-nine subjects (38.2%) presented a PSQI ≥ 5. An association between interaction anxiety and lower limbs psoriasis-related erythema as well as between PSQI and head psoriasis-related erythema was found, particularly among male patients. Hence, psoriatic patients should be assessed from a holistic point of view, in order to identify associated disorders that could benefit from targeted treatments.