ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment is effective for acne in Caucasians, but no significant improvements have been observed in studies on Asian skin. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of IPL on acne vulgaris in Asian skin. METHODS: Twenty-five Japanese patients, mainly of skin phototypes III or IV and moderate to severe acne, were treated five times with IPL at wavelengths of 400 to 700 nm and 870 to 1,200 nm. Results were evaluated in terms of changes in numbers of noninflammatory comedones and inflammatory papules, pustules, and cysts and acne grade before and after treatment. RESULTS: After the first exposure, numbers of noninflammatory and inflammatory acne lesions decreased to 36.6% and 43.0%, respectively, of their pretreatment values. After five treatments, they decreased to 12.9% and 11.7%, respectively, of their pretreatment values. Acne grade improved significantly over the course of the study. Transient erythema, with or without burning or stinging, was noted in 20 (80%) patients, but no major adverse reactions were observed. CONCLUSION: IPL with dominant wavelengths of 400 to 700 nm had a satisfactory effect on acne vulgaris in Asians.
Subject(s)
Acne Vulgaris/therapy , Low-Level Light Therapy , Skin/radiation effects , Adolescent , Adult , Asian People , Female , Humans , Male , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To date, intense pulsed light (IPL) has been applied to various skin diseases, but there have been few objective evaluations of its efficacy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to perform objective evaluations of the effect of the IPL system on rosacea and solar lentigines. METHODS: Twelve patients with rosacea were treated with IPL at the wavelength of 550 to 670 nm, three times every 4 weeks, and the skin color was determined with L(*)a(*)b(*) color space using a spectrophotometer. In addition, 18 patients with solar lentigines were treated once, and the lightness L(*) was determined. RESULTS In all of 6 erythematotelangiectatic rosacea patients and in 5 of 6 papulopustular rosacea patients, each of the L(*)a(*)b(*) values of the posttreated lesions approached those of normal skin areas (efficacy rate, 91.6%). The mean level of the L(*)a(*)b(*) values improved significantly after treatment and particularly in the erythematotelangiectatic rosacea patients. In 12 of 18 patients with solar lentigines, the lightness L(*) was elevated after treatment (efficacy rate, 66.6%). CONCLUSION: As demonstrated by spectrophotometric analysis of skin color, IPL at the wavelength of 550 to 670 nm is effective for rosacea and solar lentigines, particularly most useful for erythematotelangiectatic rosacea.
Subject(s)
Lentigo/therapy , Phototherapy , Rosacea/therapy , Adult , Aged , Colorimetry , Female , Humans , Lentigo/etiology , Lentigo/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Phototherapy/methods , Rosacea/pathology , Skin/pathology , Spectrophotometry , Sunlight/adverse effectsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Penetration through the stratum corneum limits effectiveness of topical anesthetics. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of 5% lidocaine (ELA-Max) cream applied after erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser ablation of the stratum corneum. METHODS: Randomized, controlled, split-face comparison of anesthesia was performed on 12 volunteers. The stratum corneum was painlessly ablated with a low-fluence Er:YAG laser on half of the face, then the whole face was covered with ELA-Max cream for 60 minutes. Full-face laser resurfacing was performed, and visual analog pain scores (0 to 10) were recorded during each of 2 passes. RESULTS: Laser-assisted topical anesthesia demonstrated significantly lower mean pain scores than topical anesthesia alone. This was more pronounced during the more painful second pass. Resurfacing after laser-assisted topical anesthesia was well tolerated by 72% of subjects in pass 1 and 58% in pass 2. CONCLUSION: Laser-assisted topical anesthesia is fast, painless, and substantially more effective than conventional topical anesthesia but does not provide adequate anesthesia for full-face resurfacing in all subjects.
Subject(s)
Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage , Laser Therapy , Lasers , Lidocaine/administration & dosage , Rhytidoplasty , Adult , Aged , Epidermis , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Pain Measurement , Postoperative PeriodABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Near-infrared reflectance confocal microscopy (CM) imaging is a noninvasive technique that can be utilized to evaluate histologic features of cutaneous lesions in vivo. OBJECTIVE: A case of pigmented eccrine poroma was examined with CM. METHODS: Confocal images were taken to define the features of the lesion and correlated with transverse hematoxylin-eosin (HE)-stained sections. RESULTS: In CM imaging, a well-demarcated homogeneous nest consisting of small uniform cells was seen. The nest contained nonrefractile dark spaces that may represent cuticuli. Many dendritic melanocytes containing melanin were intermingled with the tumor cells, and numerous melanophages were present in the upper dermis. A marked prominence of surrounding vessels was also demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: CM could well demonstrate the features of a pigmented eccrine poroma, as correlated with transverse HE-stained sections. However, high reflectance signals from melanin had to be carefully considered before a definitive diagnosis could be made.
