The treatment of facial verrucae with the pulsed dye laser.

Publication/Presentation Date

9-1-2002

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the treatment of facial verrucae with the pulsed dye laser.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, nonrandomized, nonblinded pilot study evaluating the treatment of facial verrucae with the pulsed dye laser.

METHODS: Twelve patients with facial verrucae (four recalcitrant) were identified and followed in the study in the setting of a tertiary referral center. The treatment consisted of the flash-lamp pumped pulsed dye laser (585 mn) with a spot size of 5 mm at fluences between 9.0 and 13 J/cm. Each lesion received one or two pulses with 2 mm of surrounding normal skin included in the treatment. One patient had paring prior to pulse treatment. The patients were examined 3 to 4 weeks after each procedure, and clinical assessment of the lesion was documented.

RESULTS: Patient ages ranged from 18 to 47 years. Four patients had refractory lesions, and eight patients had never undergone previous treatment. All 12 patients had full resolution of their facial warts after one to three treatment sessions. No complications such as scarring, alopecia, or recurrence were encountered. Follow-up ranged from 10 to 33 months.

CONCLUSIONS: Pulsed dye laser therapy is highly effective and safe therapy for facial verrucae. This method appears to selectively destroy warts without damaging surrounding skin.

Volume

112

Issue

9

First Page

1573

Last Page

1576

ISSN

0023-852X

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

12352665

Department(s)

Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology

Document Type

Article

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