A Prospective, Split-Face, Randomized Study Comparing Picosecond to Q-Switched Nd: YAG Laser for Treatment of Epidermal and Dermal Pigmented Lesions in Asians.

BACKGROUND: Whether picosecond lasers outperform Q-switched lasers in treating pigmented lesions has not been clearly evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of picosecond and Q-switched lasers in treating epidermal and dermal pigmented lesions in Asians. METHODS: Eight subjects with lentigines and 6 subjects with acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules were enrolled. Subjects was randomly treated with a picosecond laser on one side of the face and a Q-switched laser on the other side. Subjective assessments on pigment clearance, and adverse effect were obtained at Weeks 0, 4, 12, and 24 after the final treatment. RESULTS: Clinical improvement differed between the 2 laser systems at Week 4 (p = .034), Week 12 (p = .039), and Week 24 (p = .027), with 85.7% of picosecond and 57.2% of Q-switched laser sites showing >50% improvement at 6 months. There was no significant difference in the incidence of side effect and healing time, but picosecond laser was significantly associated with a lower treatment discomfort (p = .05). CONCLUSION: The picosecond laser seems to be more effective and better tolerated than Q-switched laser for the treatment of pigmented lesions in Asians.

Treatment of Laser-Responsive Dermal Pigmentary Conditions in Type III-IV Asian Skin With a 755-nm Picosecond Pulse Duration Laser: A Retrospective Review of Its Efficacy and Safety.

BACKGROUND: Picosecond lasers have become very popular in the treatment of hyperpigmentation. OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the efficacy and safety of picosecond 755-nm laser in treatment of nevi of Ota (NO) and Hori's nevi (HN) in Asians with Fitzpatrick skin Types III/IV. METHODS: A retrospective review of patient records at the National Skin Center, Singapore, from 2015 to 2017. Three independent blinded dermatologists assessed pre-and-post treatment photographs using the physician's global assessment (PGA) score (0-clear, 1-almost clear, 2-mild, 3-moderate, and 4-severe). RESULTS: There were 18 cases of NO and 11 cases of HN. Mean treatment sessions were 2.22 (NO; range 1-6) and 3.82 (HN; range 1-6). In the NO group, mean pre-and-post treatment PGA scores were 3.1 and 1.3, respectively (1.8 point change, p-value 0.0002), and average fluence used was 2.02 J/cm (range: 1.02-2.38). In the HN group, mean pre-and-post treatment PGA scores were 2.6 and 1.1, respectively (1.5 point change, p-value 0.004), and average fluence was 2.08 J/cm (range: 1.98-3.40). Eleven patients (37.9%) experienced postlaser erythema, and 1 (3.4%) patient developed transient postlaser hypopigmentation. No permanent hyper/hypopigmentation was seen. CONCLUSION: The picosecond 755-nm laser is effective in the treatment of dermal pigmentary conditions in Asians with Fitzpatrick skin Types III/IV, with minimal risk of postlaser complications, and compared with the center's past experience with the Q-switched nanosecond 1064-nm laser, results in faster and more effective pigment clearance.

Clinical characteristics and treatment of 52 cases of phakomatosis pigmentovascularis.

Phakomatosis pigmentovascularis is a rare syndrome characterized by widespread capillary malformation and pigmented nevus. The objective of this study was to evaluate its characteristics and treatment. Fifty-two patients presenting between 2003 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Type IIa (port-wine stain and dermal melanocytosis with oculocutaneous involvement) was most common. Systemic involvement was observed in 17.3% and it was not significantly correlated to extent of capillary malformation or pigmented nevus. However, systemic involvement was significantly frequent in patients with nevus of Ota and in patients with pigmented nevus located on the head and neck (P = 0.004 and 0.035, respectively). Capillary malformation was almost cleared in 28.6% of patients using pulsed dye laser, whereas pigmented nevus was almost cleared in 23.7% and completely cleared in 42.1% of patients using Q-switched neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser. Treatment outcome score showed significant inverse correlation with the extent of port-wine stain or pigmented nevus (P = 0.047, ρ = -0.308 and P = 0.011, ρ = -0.410, respectively). Pigmented nevus demonstrated better treatment response to lasers than did capillary malformation. Smaller lesions tended to show better treatment outcomes for both capillary malformation and pigmented nevus.

[Lasers]. / Lasers.

Lasers are a very effective approach for treating many hyperpigmented lesions. They are the gold standard treatment for actinic lentigos and dermal hypermelanocytosis, such as Ota nevus. Becker nevus, hyperpigmented mosaicisms, and lentigines can also be successfully treated with lasers, but they could be less effective and relapses can be observed. However, lasers cannot be proposed for all types of hyperpigmentation. Thus, freckles and café-au-lait macules should not be treated as the relapses are nearly constant. Due to its complex pathophysiology, melasma has a special place in hyperpigmented dermatoses. Q-switched lasers (using standard parameters or low fluency) should not be used because of consistent relapses and the high risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Paradoxically, targeting the vascular component of the melasma lesion with lasers could have a beneficial effect. However, these results have yet to be confirmed. In all cases, a precise diagnosis of the type of hyperpigmentation is mandatory before any laser treatment, and the limits and the potential side effects of the treatment must be clearly explained to patients.

Mongolian spots with involvement of mandibular area.

A 1-year-old boy had grayish pigmentation on the left side of his face over the area supplied by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. Upon further examination, the lesion was also found on the left side of the neck, shoulder, upper arm, right lower back and buttock. The pigmentation was uniform in intensity. This case report demonstrates that Mongolian spots can occur on the face in the area supplied by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. These spots should not be misdiagnosed as nevus of Ota.

Nevo de Ota / Naevus of Ota

El nevo de Ota se agrupa dentro de las melanosis dérmicas, grupo de dermatosis que se caracterizan por la presencia de melanocitos en la dermis. Se presenta una paciente de 24 años de edad, con una melanosis de 10 años de evolución, color azulada, localizada en región malar derecha, región preauricular, ángulo externo de ojo, cuello y hombro, de lento y constante crecimiento. El estudio anatomopatológico confirmó el diagnóstico de nevo de Ota. Se plantean diferentes modalidades terapéuticas(AU)

Nevo de Ota / Naevus of Ota

El nevo de Ota se agrupa dentro de las melanosis dérmicas, grupo de dermatosis que se caracterizan por la presencia de melanocitos en la dermis. Se presenta una paciente de 24 años de edad, con una melanosis de 10 años de evolución, color azulada, localizada en región malar derecha, región preauricular, ángulo externo de ojo, cuello y hombro, de lento y constante crecimiento. El estudio anatomopatológico confirmó el diagnóstico de nevo de Ota. Se plantean diferentes modalidades terapéuticas