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Xanthelasma palpebrarum: Treatment with the ultrapulsed CO 2 laser
Author(s) -
Raulin Christian,
Schoenermark Matthias P.,
Werner Saskia,
Greve Baerbel
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1999)24:2<122::aid-lsm7>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - laser , medicine , laser treatment , surgery , laser therapy , dermatology , dye laser , optics , physics
Background and Objective Due to its delicate location near the eye and the high recurrence rate, the therapy of xanthelasma palpebrarum is a difficult surgical task. Besides chemical, physical, and surgical procedures, various laser systems have been used to treat these lesions (argon laser, pulsed dye laser, and CO 2 laser). This study was designed to critically evaluate the use of the ultrapulsed CO 2 laser for the treatment of xanthelasma palpebrarum. Study Design/Materials and Methods We report about the standardized treatment of 23 patients (52 periorbital xanthelasmas) and the results obtained after one treatment with a new generation, ultrapulsed CO 2 laser (COHERENT Ultrapulse 5000C, Palo Alto, CA; 250–500 mJ; 600–900 μsec; 10,600 nm). The follow‐up time was 10 months. Results All lesions could be removed completely with a single laser treatment. As for side effects, only transient pigmental changes (4% hyperpigmentations, 13% hypopigmentations) and no visible scarring was observed. Three patients (13%) developed a recurrence of xanthelasma. Conclusions The ultrapulsed CO 2 laser is an effective and safe therapeutic alternative to the hitherto described approaches. Lasers Surg. Med. 24:122–127, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.