Treatment of Nasal Telangiectasis with Carbon Dioxide(CO2) Laser

ABSTRACT

Telangiectasis is defined as permanent visible dilatation of the cutaneous blood vessels. Clinically, its diameter ranges from 0.1 to 1.0 mm which represents either an expanded venule, an capillary, or sometimes an arteriole on the face. Until now, many treatment methods have been reported such as various laser therapy, sclerotherapy, electrodessication and so on. We used superpulse CO2 laser to remove nasal telangiectasis in 8 patients between May 2004 and July 2007. Laser therapy was done in continual 5 sessions with intervals of 3 - 5 weeks. In each session, laser beam was shot to the point of the bifurcation, trifurcation of telangiectatic vessels or to the points of the widest diameter. In each point, shots of the laser beam were repeated 5 times to reach deep dermis. The laser setting was 7 W with 0.5 mm diameter in superpulse mode. Photographs were taken before and after procedures to ascertain the changes of nasal telangiectasis. Our results showed that the main lesions were cleared effectively. We think that irradiation of CO2 laser onto the bifurcating points can be a valuable tool to treat nasal telangiectasis.