Mitigation of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor-induced side effects utilizing melanin and vascular-specific lasers: A case report series.

The advent of targeted chemotherapy has led to the emergence of new dermatologic toxicities. We sought to use lasers and light devices to treat recalcitrant cutaneous adverse effects related to cancer treatment. Three stage III or IV cancer patients with cutaneous complications due to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors were treated with melanin and vascular-specific laser and light technologies. Two patients reported reduction in papulopustular eruption following pulse dye laser (PDL) treatment. Two patients noted reduction in hair growth following intense pulsed light (IPL) and/or Alexandrite laser treatments. One patient was treated with both the PDL and IPL and reported improvement of both EGFR-induced hypertrichosis and papulopustular eruption. Laser and light devices targeting melanin and hemoglobin can be utilized to mitigate the cutaneous adverse effects associated with EGFR inhibitors in patients who have failed traditional therapies. This represents a new option for the cancer patient who is suffering from chemotherapy-induced side effects.

Hypertrichosis in Becker's nevus: effective low-fluence laser hair removal.

Becker's nevus is cosmetically bothersome both due to the hyperpigmentation and due to the hypertrichosis which can accompany it, particularly in males. Laser hair removal can be considered, but the pigmented background of the Becker's nevus makes the treatment more challenging. Fifteen patients with Becker's nevus underwent eight sessions of hair removal with low-fluence high-repetition-rate diode lasers (808-810 nm). All participants experienced significant hair reduction at 6 and 12 months. No adverse events were reported. The study supports the use of low fluence with high-repetition-rate diode laser hair removal as a safe and effective method for the management of hypertrichosis in Becker's nevus.

Long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of facial hypertrichosis during topical minoxidil therapy.

Hypertrichosis is a well-recognized adverse effect of therapy with either oral or topical minoxidil. We report a case of fronto-temporal hypertrichosis occurring in an 8-year-old girl treated for patchy alopecia areata of the frontal area of the scalp with 2% minoxidil solution. After failure of 5-months minoxidil-discontinuation, hair removal with Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm line) (Smartepil II, Deka) was tested leading to complete resolution within 2 sessions.

Treatment of faun-tail naevus with intense pulsed light.

BACKGROUND: Faun tail is a rare cutaneous marker of spinal dysraphism. This neurological abnormality may lead to difficulties such as severe pain and burning sensations in treatment of hypertrichosis of faun tail with laser or laser-like devices. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated outcomes of an intense pulsed light source in two patients with faun tail. METHODS: The Lumina intense pulsed light system [650-nm handpiece (550-1100 nm)] was used for the treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging and neurological examination were done. RESULTS: Tethered cord syndrome was detected as a neurological abnormality. The patients were treated with an energy fluence of 18- 26 J/cm(2), pulse sequencing of 3 to 4, and a delay time of 20-35 ms. Local anesthesia was applied in one patient during treatment for severe pain sensation. A mean of 85% hair reduction was achieved. CONCLUSION: A good cosmetic result with intense pulsed light treatment was achieved in the patients with faun tail. Local anesthesia may be required before treatment of faun tail with laser or laser-like systems due to associated neurological abnormalities.

Hair removal with the long-pulse alexandrite and long-pulse Nd:YAG lasers is safe and well tolerated in children.

BACKGROUND: Children with excessive hair may have severe psychological consequences. Laser hair removal in adults is known to be safe and well tolerated, but this is less well established in children. OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience with laser hair removal in children, and to investigate the safety and tolerability of this procedure in children. METHODS: The case records of 24 children aged < 16 years, who had received a minimum of three treatments for hair removal were analysed retrospectively. For patients with Fitzpatrick skin phototype II-IV, the lasers used were a long-pulse alexandrite (755 nm) with either continuous chilled-air cooling at fluences of 16-27 J/cm(2) or a long-pulse alexandrite with cryogen cooling at fluences of 16-32 J/cm(2). For patients with Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV-VI, lasers used were a long-pulse Nd:YAG (1064 nm) with a chilled contact sapphire tip at fluences of 20-35 J/cm(2) or a long-pulse Nd:YAG with cryogen cooling at fluences of 16-26 J/cm(2). RESULTS: Mean age at first treatment was 12.3 years. Diagnoses were constitutional hirsutism (14 patients), polycystic ovarian syndrome (five), congenital melanocytic naevus (two), generalized hypertrichosis (two) and naevoid hypertrichosis (one). One patient required a general anaesthetic, eight required topical anaesthetic cream, and 15 did not require any form of anaesthesia. Intolerable discomfort requiring adjustment in fluence was the only recorded side-effect, affecting two cases. There were no incidences of blistering, infection, dyspigmentation or scarring. CONCLUSION: When administered appropriately, laser hair removal is safe and well tolerated in children aged < 16 years.

CO2 laser desiccation of urethral hair post-penoscrotal hypospadias repair.

BACKGROUND: Proximal urethral defects account for approximately 20% of hypospadiac urethras. Previous surgical interventions involved hair-bearing genital skin which consequently resulted in a hairy urethra, which is seen mainly in older patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the CO2 laser for urethra hair elimination. METHODS: Four men aged 18-20 years with hairy urethras, who failed electrolysis treatment, were treated with CO2 laser desiccation at low fluences (2-5 watts). The treatments were performed at 1-month intervals. Treatment was continued until no hair was seen. Visual assessment of the hair reduction was recorded. RESULTS: Patients received two to four treatment sessions (average 3.2). On clinical assessment 3 months after the last treatment, outcome was rated excellent (no hair) in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: CO2 laser desiccation should be considered as a therapeutic modality for a hairy urethra, especially after the failure of electrolysis.

Comparative study on a single treatment response to long pulse Nd:YAG lasers and intense pulse light therapy for hair removal on skin type IV to VI--is longer wavelengths lasers preferred over shorter wavelengths lights for assisted hair removal.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of a long pulsed Nd:YAG (1064nm) laser compared to a shorter wavelength intense pulse light system for assisted hair removal in volunteers with skin type 1V, V and VI. METHODS: Eleven patients of Fitzpatrick skin type IV-VI were recruited into the study. The area treated included the face (upper lips, chin and jaw area), axillae and legs. One half of the body was treated with the long pulse Nd:YAG laser and the other half was treated with the IPL system randomly under topical anesthesia. Degree of pain experienced during treatment, the treatment outcome and any complications were observed. Patients were reviewed at 2 weeks and 6 weeks post-treatment. RESULTS: Volunteers generally described pain from the IPL system as "prolonged burning sensation" but tolerable. Pain from Nd:YAG laser treatment was described as "pinprick" and more intense but tolerable. "Slowing of hair growth"was reported with IPL and Nd:YAG, but with a greater effect from Nd:YAG. Sixty-four percent and 73%(8/11) noticed hair reduction <20% after 6 weeks on IPL and Nd:YAG treated side respectively (ns). Post-inflammatory pigmentation occurred in some volunteers on the IPL treated sides whereas this was not seen on any Nd:YAG treated side, and three of these patients experienced blistering, followed by post-inflammatory pigmentation. CONCLUSION: In our experience the long pulse width 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, which can penetrate 5-7 mm into the dermis depths to reach the whole length of the hair follicle, would be expected to produce sufficient follicular injury with less epidermal damage in patients with darker skin type compared to shorter wavelength laser and light system.

Comparative evaluation of different hair removal lasers in skin types IV, V, and VI.

BACKGROUND: Lasers permit treatment of unwanted excess hair with less discomfort than other methods of epilation. Many lasers with different parameters are now available from which the dermatologist can choose. Improved clinical results are made possible by the high specificity and selectivity of the laser systems to pigmented hair because of the use of an appropriate wavelength with the proper pulse and duration. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the results of treatment of skin types IV, V, and VI using three different laser systems. METHODS: One hundred female patients were compared using different laser systems: 35 patients underwent epilation using a Nd-Yag laser, 33 patients using an Alexandrite laser, and 32 patients using a Diode laser. RESULTS: Follow up 12 months after the multiple treatments (three to six sessions) showed an insignificant difference between these three groups (35-40%). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that all three laser systems tested can be used for dark skin; however, one should select a system that minimizes side-effects, primarily hypo- and hyper-pigmentation, especially when used for skin types IV, V, and VI.

Temporary hair loss using the long-pulsed alexandrite laser at 20 milliseconds.

Facial hypertrichosis presents an enormous psychological burden for women. Temporary hair removal (waxing, plucking, etc.) and electrolysis are prolonged and unsatisfactory methods of treatment. For a few years several laser systems with varying wavelengths, pulse durations and energy fluences have been used successfully in laser epilation. In the retrospective study on hand, we report on results of 30 female patients with hypertrichosis in the facial area treated with the long pulse alexandrite laser at 20 msec (Cynosure PhotoGenica LPIR/Apogee; 755 nm; 20 msec; up to 30 J/cm2; 10 or 12.5 mm beam diameter) over an 18 month treatment period. After an average of 8 treatments, an average clearance rate of 75% could be achieved. Fair hair (white/blond/red) only showed a clearance rate of 10%. Hypo- and hyperpigmentation did not appear. The most frequent adverse effects were the occasional appearance of scattered crusting (17%), which healed without consequences, and folliculitis (13%). The average post-treatment observation time lasted 3.25 months. The long-pulsed alexandrite laser at a pulse duration of 20 msec is an effective and safe method of treatment of hypertrichosis in the facial region of women. Black hair responds considerably better to the laser treatment than fair hair. A longer post-treatment observation time is necessary, though, in order to provide evidence for the permanence of the success of the method.

Ruby laser-assisted hair removal: an ultrastructural evaluation of cutaneous damage.

Ruby laser-assisted hair removal is thought to act via selective photothermolysis of melanin in the hair follicles. Although initial clinical trials of permanent hair removal using ruby lasers are promising, the exact mechanisms of hair destruction and the potential damage to other structures of skin are not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cutaneous ultrastructural changes following ruby laser hair removal. Nineteen healthy Caucasian patients with dark (brown/black) hair were treated with the ruby laser and biopsies taken after 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 21 days. Specimens were examined by light and electron microscopy. Laser-treated specimens showed widespread coagulation and charring of subcutaneous hair shafts. These obviously damaged follicles were randomly dispersed amongst intact follicles within the same treatment sites. Microscopic changes were also seen in the basal epidermis where melanin was concentrated, irrespective of any obvious macroscopic damage. A low level of inflammatory response seen up to 2 weeks after treatment always followed laser treatment. Suprabasal epidermal necrosis was only seen in patients with blister formation after treatment. Ruby laser irradiation results in selective damage to the hair follicles, with microscopic changes to the basal epidermis. The damage is probably compounded by the inflammatory response to the damaged hair. The normal appearance and distribution of collagen in the dermal layer supported the clinical evidence that laser-assisted hair removal, if performed correctly, does not lead to scar formation.

[Treatment possibilities with a high-energy pulsed light source (PhotoDerm VL)]. / Einsatzgebiete einer hochenergetischen Blitzlampe (PhotoDerm VL).

By varying the light spectrum, impulse length, impulse sequences and fluences, the PhotoDerm VL allows a large choice of individual treatment parameters. Superficial as well as deeper localized vascular malformations (essential telangiectases, port-wine stains, Poikiloderma of Civatte, hemangiomatous malformations) and cosmetically bothering hypertrichosis can be treated successfully with this high intensity polychromatic pulsed light source.

The tricho system: hypertrichosis, radiation, and cancer.

Five women in their 6th to 8th decades were treated for facial hypertrichosis in Erie, Pennsylvania, 30 to 40 years ago. The epilations were performed with an X-ray device called "Tricho System," which was manufactured, sold, and proclaimed safe by its physician-inventor. The beauty shop operator who administered these treatments may or may not have received "instruction" by the company in the operation of the equipment. At varying intervals, each of the 5 women developed radiodermatitis and basal cell and/or squamous cell carcinoma at the sites of epilation. All presented to the plastic surgical service at the Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. Two underwent massive radical resective surgery, 2 required extensive excision and resurfacing, and 1 refused resective surgery although she had had a previous surgical attempt 17 years earlier. Case histories are presented in detail. This series is representative of the epidemic nature of Tricho-System-induced disease.