Low-fluence Q-switched 1,064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser for the treatment of facial partial unilateral lentiginosis in Koreans.

BACKGROUND: Established pigment lasers have been used in partial unilateral lentiginosis (PUL) have shown unsatisfactory results.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and safety of low-fluence 1,064-nm Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (QS Nd:YAG) laser treatment of PUL in Koreans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten Korean patients with facial PUL were treated with 1,064-nm QS Nd:YAG laser, 7-mm spot size, 1.5- to 2.5-J/cm(2) fluence at 2-week intervals. Standard digital photographs were taken under the same condition at baseline and at each follow-up visit. Independent dermatologists evaluated the photographs. All patients completed a questionnaire to assess their subjective satisfaction with the laser treatment using a 5-point grading system. Degree of pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (0-10). Any complications and side effects were recorded at each visit. Patients were followed up every 4 weeks for 12 weeks after the last laser treatment.

RESULTS: Five of 10 patients (50%) had achieved excellent improvement (76-100%) at the end of treatment, and the remaining 50% had good improvement (51-75%). In patient self-evaluation of the degree of improvement of PUL, nine (90%) assessed it as very much to much improved (>50% improvement), and 1 (10%) assessed it as moderate (50-75%). Subjects rated the pain associated with laser treatment at a mean score of 3.3 (range: 1-5) on a scale of 1 to 10. Mottled hypopigmentation developed in two patients. At follow-up, 12 weeks after the last laser session, all of the patients had partial recurrence, which wqw resolved with one to two sessions of laser treatment.

CONCLUSION: Low-fluence 1,064-nm QS Nd:YAG laser treatment for facial PUL in Koreans showed improvement with no significant side effects. We recommend the low-fluence 1,064-nm QS Nd:YAG laser as a treatment option for facial PUL.