Er:YAG laser for the treatment of actinic keratoses.
Publication/Presentation Date
5-1-2000
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is no single optimal treatment for multiple facial actinic keratoses. The existing therapies such as topical 5-fluorouracil, chemical peels, cryotherapy, dermabrasion, and CO2 laser resurfacing can produce prolonged recovery time or are often operator dependent.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate another therapeutic modality which provides a shorter recovery time with uniform results. We performed a prospective pilot study investigating the use of the Er:YAG laser for the treatment of multiple facial actinic keratoses.
METHODS: Five patients with multiple facial actinic keratoses were treated with two to three passes of Er:YAG laser. Anesthesia was achieved in all cases by topical application and local infiltration when indicated. All patients were treated with 2.0 J, 5 mm spot size, and a fluence of 10 J/cm2. Clinical and histologic evaluations were performed both pre- and postoperatively.
RESULTS: All patients showed a decrease in the total number of clinical actinic keratoses on the face ranging from 86 to 96%. In addition to the reversal of actinic damage in the epidermis, histologic evidence revealed increased fibroplasia and decreased superficial solar elastosis 3 months after the laser resurfacing. Reepithelialization occurred in 5-8 days, and erythema lasted for about 3-6 weeks after the procedure. There was no evidence of scarring or pigmentary changes in any of the patients during the follow-up period.
CONCLUSION: Er:YAG laser skin resurfacing is a safe and effective treatment for multiple facial actinic keratoses. Histologic data suggest a new zone of collagen deposition occurs in the superficial papillary dermis. Under our current parameters, Er:YAG laser skin resurfacing has a relatively short recovery period and a low risk of scarring. Unlike the CO2 laser, Er:YAG laser skin resurfacing can be performed with topical anesthesia alone.
Volume
26
Issue
5
First Page
437
Last Page
440
ISSN
1076-0512
Published In/Presented At
Jiang, S. B., Levine, V. J., Nehal, K. S., Baldassano, M., Kamino, H., & Ashinoff, R. A. (2000). Er:YAG laser for the treatment of actinic keratoses. Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.], 26(5), 437–440. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1524-4725.2000.99283.x
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
10816231
Department(s)
Department of Medicine
Document Type
Article