Favorable effect after single treatment session of 755-nm-picosecond laser with a diffractive optic lens on facial wrinkles and pore size in Asians.

OBJECTIVES: Laser therapy has become one of the mainstay treatments for improving signs of aging including wrinkles, large pores, and skin pigmentation. However, in patients with pigmented skin, an increase in complications including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) has been noted. The purpose of this study is to investigate not only the safety profile of 755-nm picosecond laser with diffractive lens array (DLA) at approximately 2250 pulses on the face in people with darker skin, but also to evaluate its efficacy in treating wrinkles and pore sizes after one treatment session among different age groups. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study enrolled patients between age 22 and 65 with both facial wrinkles and enlarged pore sizes. A total of 46 patients (7 male, 39 female, mean age 43) with Fitzpatrick skin types III and IV were enrolled. Two independent data-blinded dermatologists assessed and scored the improvements of patients' wrinkles and pore sizes using photographs. RESULTS: After one treatment session, statistically significant improvements were observed in lateral canthal wrinkles (p < 0.001) and facial wrinkles (p = 0.014). In addition, greater percentage of the patients from the aged group (50-65 years) showed clinically significant improvement as compared with the younger group. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with type III and IV skin, one session of DLA picosecond laser treatment at around 2250 pulses to the face is safe and effective for clinically meaningful improvement of the wrinkles and pore sizes, especially for the patients from 50- to 65-years of age.

Epidemiology of benign essential blepharospasm: A nationwide population-based retrospective study in Taiwan.

IMPORTANCE: This study provides a nationwide, population-based data on the incidence of benign essential blepharospasm in Asian adults. BACKGROUND: To describe the incidence, patient demographics, and risk factors associated with benign essential blepharospasm. DESIGN: Population-based retrospective study. PARTICIPANTS AND SAMPLES: A total of 1325 patients with benign essential blepharospasm were identified. METHODS: Patients with diagnosis of blepharopsasm between January 2000 and December 2013 were sampled using the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. Secondary blepharospasm that may be related to neurological, trauma, and ocular surface disease were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURED: Multivariate conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios for potential risk factors of benign essential blepharospasm. RESULTS: The mean annual incidence was 0.10‰ (0.07‰ for males, and 0.12‰ for females). The peak incidence was in the 50 to 59-year-old age group (0.19‰). People living in urban regions have more risk of developing blepharospasm comparing to people living in less urban regions (p <0.01). White-collar workers also have higher chance of having blepharospasm (p<0.001). Significant difference between control group and case group in hyperlipidemia (p <0.001), sleep disorders (p <0.001), mental disorders (depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder) (p <0.001), dry eye-related diseases (dry eye, Sjögren's syndrome) (p <0.001), Parkinson's disease (p <0.004), and rosacea (p <0.021) were also identified. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Higher level of urbanization, white-collar work, sleep disorders, mental health diseases, dry eye-related diseases, Parkinsonism, and rosacea are possible risk factors for benign essential blepharospasm.