Successful Treatment of Facial Telangiectasias Using a... : Dermatologic Surgery (original) (raw)

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Successful Treatment of Facial Telangiectasias Using a Micropulse 1,064-nm Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser

1_Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York,_

2_Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York,_

3_Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists of New York and New Jersey, New York, New York,_

Address Correspondence and reprint requests to: David J. Goldberg, MD, 115 East 57TH Street, Suite 710, New York, NY 10022, or e-mail: [email protected]

This study was funded by a research grant from Aerolase.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a microsecond 1,064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser for the treatment of facial telangiectasias.

METHODS

Subjects ages 35–70 with Fitzpatrick skin types I to III and facial telangiectasias underwent two treatments with a micropulse (0.65 ms) 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser. Treatments were spaced 30 days apart, with a final evaluation 60 days after the second treatment. Evaluation included digital photography and an assessment of the degree of improvement on a scale from 1 to 5 by the subject and a nontreating investigator.

RESULTS

Twenty subjects (18 women, two men) with Fitzpatrick skin type II and III completed the study. The nontreating investigator rated the objective clinical response as total clearance (100% clear) in 10% (n = 2) of subjects, significant clearance (≥50% clear) in 75% (n = 15), and some clearance (0–49% clear) in 15% (n = 3). None of the subjects was rated as having no clearance or worsening. In terms of subjective clearance reported by subjects, 80% (n = 16) reported significant clearance, with the remainder reporting some clearance. No adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSION

The micropulse 1,064-nm Nd:YAG successfully treated facial telangiectasias with a high degree of patient satisfaction, minimal discomfort, and no adverse events.