Premium
Comparison of Q‐switched Nd: YAG laser and fractional carbon dioxide laser for the treatment of solar lentigines in Asians
Author(s) -
Vachiramon Vasanop,
Panmanee Wikanda,
Techapichetvanich Thanya,
Chanprapaph Kumutnart
Publication year - 2016
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/lsm.22472
Subject(s) - hyperpigmentation , medicine , grading scale , carbon dioxide laser , laser , nd:yag laser , nevus of ota , dermatology , nuclear medicine , surgery , nevus , optics , melanoma , laser surgery , physics , cancer research
Background/Objective Solar lentigines are benign pigmented lesions that occur mostly on sun‐exposed areas. Q‐switched and ablative lasers are effective for removing these lesions but the high incidence of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation raises concern in darker skin types. The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy and degree of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation with the Q‐switched Nd:YAG and fractional carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) laser for treatment of solar lentigines in Asians. Study design Twenty‐five Thai patients (skin phototype III–IV) with at least two lesions of solar lentigines on upper extremities were enrolled in this study. Two lesions were randomly selected for the treatment with a single session of Q‐switched Nd:YAG or fractional CO 2 laser. Outcomes were evaluated using physician grading scale, colorimeter, and patient self‐assessment at 6 and 12 weeks after treatment. Side effects were recorded. Results A total of 532 nm Q‐switched Nd:YAG laser showed significant improvement of pigmentation over fractional CO 2 laser at 6th and 12th week by both colorimeter assessment and physician grading scale ( P < 0.05). No significant difference in postinflammatory hyperpigmentation from both lasers was observed. In terms of patient self‐assessment, 80% of the patients treated with 532 nm Q‐switched Nd:YAG laser had excellent results compared to 8% in fractional CO 2 laser group. However, fractional CO 2 laser treatment had faster healing time and less pain score compared to Q‐switched Nd:YAG laser. Conclusions Q‐switched Nd:YAG is superior to fractional CO 2 laser for treatment of solar lentigines but requires longer healing time and produces more pain. The incidence of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation was not significantly different with both lasers. Further studies are needed to obtain the proper parameter and the treatment frequency of fractional CO 2 laser in solar lentigines. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:354–359, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.