Combined laser assisted treatment for permanent hair removal for skin types I-V with Alexandrite 755 nm and ND:YAG 1064 nm lasers.

This retrospective cohort study regarding hair removal procedures considers all the data collected in three different clinical centers from 2017 to 2019. The device used to perform the treatments was composed of an Alexandrite 755 nm and an Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser, that delivered both wavelengths in a blended simultaneous emission (Thunder MT, Quanta System, Samarate, Italy). The improvement evaluated after five sessions of treatment by an external referee was: 83.0% for armpits, 82.1% for the bikini line, 82.2% for legs, 79.6% for thorax, and 81.6% for the back. The collected temporary skin reaction data reported in this study were all acceptable and transitory resolving in less than 1 week. The level of erythema and perifollicular edema were all signs of the reached treatment endpoint. First degree burns, hyper, and hypopigmentation were also reported in a few cases but these, all resolved before the follow-up visit without any permanent skin effects. No adverse effects were thus reported to have happened. This retrospective study demonstrates the efficacy of combining Alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers in a mixed modality with simultaneous emission. This technology permitted to treat patients with skin types I-V without any reported permanent side effects and with a high pain tolerability compared to the use of Nd:YAG in single mode.

Skin vascular lesions: A new therapeutic option with sequential laser-assisted technique.

Treatment of skin unaesthetic vascular lesions is still suboptimal. In this article, we present a multicenter study evaluating the efficacy and safety of the sequential 755 nm Alexandrite and 1064 nm ND:YAG lasers for the treatment of acquired and congenital vascular lesions of the skin. A total of 171 patients were included in the study (141 female and 30 male), median age 38, skin type from I to IV. Numbers of patients categorized for treated disease: 22 spider angiomas, 67 facial telangiectasia/spider veins, 58 leg telangiectasia/reticular leg veins, 24 port wine stains (PWS). Of those lesions 30.7% was on legs, 63.7% on face (6.7% on forehead, 10.1% on temples, 21.7% on cheeks, 25.2% on nose, 1.7% on chin) and 5.6% on chest. Spider angiomas required from 1 to 3 treatments. Facial telangiectasias had been treated from 1 to 4 times. Leg telangiectasias needed from 2 to 6 treatment sessions. Regarding PWS, it takes from 6 to 9 laser treatment to reach the clearance of the lesion. All the vascular disorders treated showed marked improvement while side effects were limited to low pain sensation and transitory fenomena. This sequential treatment is an effective, safe, and new approach for unaesthetic skin vascular lesions.

Low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG 1064-nm laser versus Q-switched Nd:YAG 532-nm laser in the treatment of hyperpigmented lips: a prospective, randomized, controlled, evaluator-blinded trial.

Lip hyperpigmentation is an esthetic problem. Clinical data from controlled comparative studies is insufficient to support the efficacy of laser treatments for hyperpigmented lips. This study is aimed to compare the efficacy of low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG 1064-nm laser (LFQS 1064-nm) versus Q-switched Nd:YAG 532-nm laser (QS 532-nm) for the treatment of hyperpigmented lips. A randomized, controlled, evaluator-blinded study was conducted in thirty subjects. They were randomized into 2 groups. The first group was treated with five treatment sessions with a 2-week interval of LFQS 1064-nm laser while the second group was treated with a single session of QS 532-nm laser. The evaluation was conducted at baseline, 2 weeks of each post treatment, and 4 weeks after the last treatment session. The efficacy was assessed by melanin index, Methuen colored plate, photographic evaluation, pain score, patient's satisfaction, and patient's Dermatology Life Quality Index. The adverse effects were also recorded. All patients attained throughout the study protocol. The most frequent fluence applied was 2.4 J/cm2 (2.2-2.5 J/cm2) and 2.0 J/cm2 (1.7-2.4 J/cm2) in the LFQS 1064-nm group and QS 532-nm group, respectively. The results of the QS 532-nm group showed greater percentage of melanin index reduction and better average mean of photographic evaluation percentage changes from the baseline than the LFQS 1064-nm group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The adverse effects were less likely to occur in the LFQS 1064-nm group. Few cases of scale, hypopigmentation, bleb formation, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, and labial edema occurred only in the QS 532-nm group.

A split-face comparison of Q-switched Nd:YAG 1064-nm laser for facial rejuvenation in Nevus of Ota patients.

We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of using the 1064-nm Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (QSNYL) for skin rejuvenation in patients with Nevus of Ota. A retrospective, randomized, split-faced, clinical study was conducted. Twenty-nine patients with unilateral moderate to severe Nevus of Ota were enrolled. The participants completed 3-13 sessions of QSNYL treatments 3-6 months apart. Two independent physicians compared the treated and untreated sides of the face to evaluate the clearance of Nevus of Ota, the wrinkle severity rating scale (WSRS), the global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS), and adverse event reporting. Patients' satisfaction levels were also considered. Of the 29 patients, 28 (96.6%) achieved nearly complete pigmentation clearance. After an average of 7.76 ± 2.99 sessions, statistically significant improvement in wrinkles and skin texture were observed, compared with the untreated side. The degree of skin rejuvenation was positively correlated with the number of treatment sessions. No clinically adverse effects were observed. Repeated QSNYL treatments not only remove the pigment in Nevus of Ota effectively and safely but also improve facial rejuvenation.

A split face study to document the safety and efficacy of clearance of melasma with a 5 ns q switched Nd YAG laser versus a 50 ns q switched Nd YAG laser.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety and efficacy of a 50 ns Q switched Nd YAG laser vs. a 5 ns Q switched Nd YAG laser for clearance of melasma. To compare subject satisfaction, efficacy, and comfort level between the two lasers. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective, randomized split face clinical study. The study was approved by the Scripps IRB. Ten healthy female subjects with moderate to severe melasma were enrolled. Each subject had three laser treatments one month apart. Patients were followed up approximately 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the final laser treatment. A treatment session consisted of a microdermabrasion, 1064 nm QS laser, and topicals. Subjects were asked to rate treatment pain based on a numerical scale range 0-10 (0 = no pain and 10 = worst pain). A melasma area and severity index (MASI) grading system was applied. Also, melanin measurements were acquired by a reflectance spectrophotometer. Side effects were documented during the study including post treatment erythema. RESULTS: Eight patients completed the study. Subjects showed improvement on both sides of the face. From baseline to 1 month post the final laser treatment, the average MASI scores showed a 16% reduction for the 50 ns QS 1064 nm laser vs. a 27% reduction for the 5 ns QS 1064 nm laser (both significant versus baseline pigment, P < 0.05). This difference in MASI scores between the two lasers was not statistically significant (P = 0.87930). Laser treatments displayed mild erythema that resolved after one day. The melanin meter measurements showed a reduction in pigment readings on both sides. Three months after the final treatment there was some relapse in the melasma, as the mean pigment reduction fell to 12% for the 50 ns laser and 11% for the 5 ns laser. By 3 months pigment reduction was not statistically significant for either laser, and no significant differences in pigment reduction were noted between the two pulse durations. There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) in pain scores reported by the subjects (scale 0-10), the mean pain score for 50 ns QS 1064 nm laser was 1.2 and for the 5 ns QS 2.9 the score was 2.9. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we showed that a combination of microdermabrasion, QS1064 nm laser, and topicals decreased the MASI and meter scores without clinically significant side effects. Moreover, the longer pulsed Q switched 1064 nm laser i.e. (50 ns) was associated with less pain than its shorter pulse width counterpart.

Immunomodulatory effects of Nd:YAG (1064 nm) and diode laser (810 nm) wavelengths to LPS-challenged human gingival fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVE: Human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) are involved in inflammatory responses to bacteria by recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns. In search of host modulation strategies to increase LPS tolerance, Low level laser therapy (LLLT) has been suggested as an alternative treatment that reduces periodontal tissue inflammation. In this study, we investigate whether 810 nm (diode) and 1064 nm (Nd:YAG) laser wavelengths, modulate pro-inflammatory responses to LPS challenges in hGFs. DESIGN: Primary hGFs were challenged with Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS and irradiated with either Diode (810 nm) or with Nd:YAG (1064 nm) lasers. Cell cultures were examined for cell proliferation by MTT assay and IL-6 and IL-8 expression by qPCR at 24, 48 and 72 h. IL-6 and IL-8 protein levels were detected via ELISA. RESULTS: Naïve hGF populations irradiated with both Diode 810 nm and Nd:YAG 1064 nm lasers demonstrated cellular proliferation (p < 0.05), but LLLT did not affect cellular viability in LPS-challenged cells. IL-6 and IL-8 gene expression levels revealed significant anti-inflammatory effects of irradiation with both examined wavelengths on hGFs challenged with P. gingivalis LPS. Protein levels of these cytokines were increased by LPS challenge. Treatment with LLLT inhibited this increase for both wavelengths evaluated in the study at a statistically significant level particularly for the first 48 h. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates a modulatory effect of LLLT using both 810 nm diode and Nd:YAG 1064 nm lasers in gingival fibroblasts by decreasing the production of IL-6, IL-8 in response to LPS.

Comparison between the use of intense pulsed light and Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser for the treatment of axillary hyperpigmentation.

BACKGROUND: Axillary hyperpigmentation (AH) is a condition in which axillary skin is darker than the adjacent areas. To date, there is no standard treatment for AH. The Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet 1064-nm(QS) laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) are two effective modalities for the treatment of pigmentary disorders; however, the efficacy and safety levels of both treatments for AH have not yet been compared in a controlled study. AIMS: To evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of the QS laser and IPL in the treatment of AH. METHODS: A randomized, split-side study was conducted on 22 subjects; all subjects received a total of five split-side treatments every 2 weeks. The efficacy was determined using the melanin index (MI), color chart level using the Pantone SkinTone™ Guide, improvement grading scale (IGS), and patient satisfaction scores at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. RESULTS: The results showed that there was no significant difference in MI, color chart level, IGS, and patient satisfaction scores between the two treatments. Both treatments significantly improved AH after three sessions. However, the pain score was lower for IPL treatment. The adverse effects were transient and were found after IPL treatment in one participant (4.45%) who developed hyperpigmentation and another participant (4.45%) who developed erythema. CONCLUSIONS: Intense pulsed light therapy is safe and effective for the treatment of AH, with no significant difference in the outcome compared with QS laser treatment.