Side-effects and complications of flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser therapy of port-wine stains. A prospective study.

The flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser (FPDL) was the first laser system specifically developed for the treatment of cutaneous vascular lesions such as port-wine stains (PWS), telangiectases and haemangiomas. Its theoretical advantages have been verified by numerous excellent clinical results. As there are few systematic studies on the adverse effects of this laser system, we investigated 100 consecutive patients who received FPDL therapy of PWS. Pain during and after laser therapy was a common complaint. Post-treatment erythema occurred in 29%, oedema in 73%, formation of bullae in 1%, and serous crusting in 46-83% of patients (based on our observations and the patients histories, respectively), all of which lasted for a maximum of 7 days. Furthermore, complications such as impetigo-like crusting occurred in 25%, bleeding in 12%, a pyogenic granuloma in 1%, hyperpigmentation in 27%, hypopigmentation in 1%, atrophic scarring in 3%, and an hypertrophic scar in 1%. Although most of these changes were only focal, and were predominantly transient, our results indicate that the incidence of side-effects and complications produced by the FPDL (wavelength 585 nm, pulsewidth 450 microseconds) may be higher than previously documented in the literature.

Nd:YAG laser hyperthermia in the treatment of recalcitrant verrucae vulgares (Regensburg's technique).

Heat therapy of cutaneous diseases has been used for decades. During the last years several kinds of energy sources, including electromagnetic energy from radiofrequency, microwaves and sonic energy from ultrasound, have been used to produce local hyperthermia. The general principle of this treatment is based on the fact that disease tissue which is being treated is more sensitive to the effects of elevated temperature than normal tissue and thus less able to recover after heat exposure. We report the case of a 54-year-old female patient with recalcitrant verrucae vulgares on the little finger of her right hand and on her left sole, who was treated with Nd:YAG laser hyperthermia. Laser energy was applied twice with an interval of 6 weeks. Laser output power was 10 W, spot size 8 mm and irradiation time up to 20 s. By this technique it was possible to receive a surface temperature of about 40 degrees C for 30 s. After hyperthermia no skin changes like whitish discoloration, blistering or crusting were observed. After the patient had completed the second course a total remission took place. No recurrence was seen in a follow-up period of 3 months. This method could be used in the treatment of recalcitrant warts on the fingers and hands, periungual and other parts of the body including plantar surfaces.

Granuloma pyogenicum as a complication of flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser.

The flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser (FPDL) is a dye laser with 585-nm wavelength and 300- to 450-microseconds pulse width and has been demonstrated to effectively and safely treat port-wine stains, telangiectases and superficial hemangiomas. We report 2 cases of pyogenic granuloma following the treatment with FPDL.