Nd:YAG laser treatment of recalcitrant folliculitis decalvans.

BACKGROUND: The scarring follicular disorders pose challenging therapeutic dilemmas. OBJECTIVE: Hair removal lasers have recently been shown to be efficacious in the management of these disorders. METHODS: We present a young, Fitzpatrick skin type VI African-American patient with recalcitrant folliculitis decalvans, whom we treated with the neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. RESULTS: A remission of folliculitis decalvans was successfully achieved using the Nd:YAG for laser depilation. CONCLUSION: Based on the optical properties of light in skin, the Nd:YAG laser is the best for laser depilation in dark individuals.