The cosmetic treatment of urticaria pigmentosa with Nd:YAG laser at 532 nanometers.

BACKGROUND: Urticaria pigmentosa is a cutaneous disorder involving infiltration of the skin with mast cells. Histologically the papillary dermis has an increased number of mast cells with an increase in basal layer pigmentation. In addition to possible systemic symptoms, patients with urticaria pigmentosa can suffer emotionally from the cosmetic nature of this skin disease.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to investigate the use of a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm for the treatment of the cosmetic comorbidity of urticaria pigmentosa lesions.

METHODS: A 19-year-old white male with urticaria pigmentosa had multiple lesions on the dorsum of the hands and forearms. A test site on the right inner arm was treated with a DioLite 532 nanometer laser. Because of satisfaction with the treatment of the test site lesions, multiple lesions on the dorsal hands and forearms were also treated with the DioLite 532 nanometer laser.

RESULTS: There was a dramatic clinical reduction in the amount of lesions on the dorsum of the hands and forearms. The test site lesions on the right inner arm had not recurred.

CONCLUSION: The diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser at 532 nanometers should be considered part of a dermatologist's armamentarium for the treatment of a patient's cosmetic concerns with lesions of cutaneous mastocytosis.