Compression for the Treatment of Epidermal Pigmented Lesions with the 595-nm Pulsed Dye Laser

Compression for the Treatment of Epidermal Pigmented Lesions with the 595-nm Pulsed Dye Laser
Published article online:
17 Dec 2007
To cite this article: JEROME M. GARDEN MD, ABNOEAL D. BAKUS PHD, YACOV DOMANKEVITZ PHD
Compression for the Treatment of Epidermal Pigmented Lesions with the 595-nm Pulsed Dye Laser
Dermatologic Surgery (OnlineEarly Articles).
doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2007.34035.x
Blackwell Synergy

JEROME M. GARDEN, MD*‹*Departments of Dermatology and ‹Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; , ABNOEAL D. BAKUS, PHD‹‹Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; , AND YACOV DOMANKEVITZ, PHD··Candela Corporation, Wayland, Massachusetts

Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Jerome M. Garden, MD, 150 E. Huron Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60611-2946, or e-mail: j-garden@northwestern.edu
Equipment and funding for this study were provided by Candela Corp. Yacov Domankevitz is a full-time employee of Candela. A patent application has been submitted for the compression handpiece described in this article.

Abstract
BACKGROUND The 595-nm pulsed dye laser has been the standard of care for many vascular lesions and has rarely been used in the treatment of epidermal pigmented lesions.

OBJECTIVE The objective was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of a compression technique for the treatment of epidermal pigmented lesion using a modified 595-nm pulsed dye laser with no epidermal cooling.

METHODS Twelve subjects (mean age 58 years) underwent treatments using a modified 595-nm dye laser with a compression handpiece and no epidermal cooling. Treatments were performed with radiant exposures of 7 to 12 J/cm2, 7-mm spot size, and 1.5-ms pulse duration. Each subject received one to four treatments, 4 to 6 weeks apart. Follow-up evaluations were held before each treatment and 4 months after last treatment.

RESULTS Clearance of 75% to 100% was obtained in 43, 59, 76, and 79% of the lesions treated after one, two, three, and four treatments respectively. The fourth treatment was evaluated 4 months posttreatment. Side effects included immediate erythema and edema and rare cases of transient hyperpigmentation and atrophy. No purpura and long-lasting side effects were observed.

CONCLUSION The compression technique with a modified 595-nm pulsed dye laser system is effective and safe for the treatment of epidermal pigmented lesions.

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