Combined laser therapy for difficult dermal pigmentation: Resurfacing and selective photothermolysis

Seung Ha Park, Sang Hwan Koo, Eung Ok Choi

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    16 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Treating pigmented lesions of the skin, especially deep dermal pigmentations, are difficult to achieve satisfactory results without complications. To treat dermal pigmentations, such as nevus of Ota and congenital nevus, the combined therapy of a resurfacing laser (CO2) and a selective photothermolytic laser (the Q-Switched Ruby Laser [QSRL]) was tried, and the results were compared with those treated with the QSRL alone. Combined laser therapy has been performed in 47 patients with nevus of Ota since 1995. The mean treatment period was 6 months and the mean number of treatment was five. Of 47 patients, 46 (98%) showed excellent results. To treat congenital nevus, combined laser therapy was used in 15 patients, and 12 (80%) showed good to excellent results. By combining resurfacing and selective lasers, the treatment period has been reduced by 2 to 3 months, and the number of treatments has been reduced two- to threefold. Furthermore, treatment of congenital nevus has become possible, which was not the case with the QSRL alone. The Er:YAG laser can be used for resurfacing instead of the CO2 laser because it causes less thermal damage and faster wound healing.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)31-36
    Number of pages6
    JournalAnnals of Plastic Surgery
    Volume47
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2001

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Surgery

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