Dr. Lee Youngbok, Professor of Dermatology, The Catholic University of Korea Uijungbu St. Mary’s Hospital, will contribute a new series on literature review of Laser and botulinum toxin used in various conditions. This series will focus on new and interesting indications of Laser and botulinum toxin treatments. We hope that this series will help many clinicians in enriching their medical practice. Please stay tuned for new articles by Dr. Lee and do not hesitate to write us with any comments or requests for a review. D&PS look forward to hearing from our readers and including their comments on our publications.
The previous article focused on various indications of the long-pulsed alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser. In this article, we will take a look at scientific data that support the benefits of these lasers. Below is my study titled Photorejuvenation using long-pulsed alexandrite and long-pulsed neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet lasers: A pilot study of clinical outcome and patients’ satisfaction in Koreans published in The Journal of Dermatology in 2012. This study examined patient satisfaction and clinical improvement in 116 participants receiving long-pulsed alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser treatment.1
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Image 1. Study on patient satisfaction and clinical improvement of long-pulsed alexandrite and Nd:YAG Laser.
HELIOSⅡ/LOTUSⅡ/HYPERION – Manufacturer: LASEROPTEK(www.laseroptek.com)
In this study, we used the long-pulsed alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser (Gentlemax, Candela, Wayland, MA, USA). In patients who wanted pigment removal, I used 755nm, 3ms pulse duration, 20~26J/cm2, 8~12mm spot size, and dynamic cooling device. I also performed quasi pulse toning using 0.25ms pulse duration, 6~8J/cm2, 7Hz, spot size 6~10mm, and no cooling system.
In patients desiring erythema improvement, I used the long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser (10mm spot size, 50ms pulse duration, 40~50J/cm2 with dynamic cooling device) in the entire face. I used 1.5mm spot size and 300J/cm2, 20ms pulse duration for treating telangiectasia. Photographs taken before and after treatment were used for investigator assessment of clinical improvement and patients were surveyed on their satisfaction with the treatment.
It was found that 18% and 26% of patients receiving the long-pulsed alexandrite laser therapy (mean age: 40.1±1.3 years) showed excellent improvement and good improvement, respectively. The long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser treatment performed for improving erythema and elasticity was found to bring excellent to good improvement in 36% of patients (mean age: 42.6±1.8 years). Telangiectasia visibly improved in most cases.
Patients reported satisfaction on the following categories; improved elasticity, improved pigmented lesion, and improved redness.
Image 2. Patient satisfaction results.
Image 3. Clinical photographs; pigmented lesions and erythema before (left) and after treatment (right).
-To be continued-
