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Intense pulsed light in the management of post-burn keloid and hypertrophic scar: a comparative study

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Abstract

Background

Post-burn hypertrophic scar and keloid are challenging problems. Intense pulsed light (IPL) vascular filter (550–1200nm) has a similar effect to the pulsed dye laser 585nm in management of the same cutaneous applications.

Methods

This prospective comparative study was conducted on 34 patients with post-burn hypertrophic scars and keloid. The lesions were irradiated, using an IPL filter 550–1100 nm, 20 ms pulse duration, and fluence of 34 J/cm2. Sessions done every 2 weeks over a period of 6 months. The follow-up was scheduled for 1 month and 6 months. Evaluation methods were both subjective by the Vancouver scar scale (VSS) and objective by the skin imaging analysis system.

Results

Patients received 12 sessions. Erythema was the first sign to show improvement after the second session while itching was the first symptom which showed improvement followed by pain and finally improvement in the range of movement. The improvement of the VSS was higher in the hypertrophic scars than the keloid group (P˂ 0.001).

Conclusions

IPl proved its efficacy in the treatment of post-burn hypertrophic scars and keloid. However, the improvement in the pliability and erythema in hypertrophic scar was higher than in keloids.

Level of evidence: Level IV, Therapeutic

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Funding

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript. The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laser National Institute of Enhanced Laser Sciences, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Abeer Attia Tawfik

  2. Kasar El Eni Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Rama Ahmed Ali

Authors
  1. Abeer Attia Tawfik
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  2. Rama Ahmed Ali
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abeer Attia Tawfik.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences Cairo Univeristy (NIELS-EC-CU 23/6/10).

Consent to participate

The authors affirm that human research participants provided informed consent for sharing their data and for publication of the images in Figs. 1a, b and 2a, b.

Conflict of interest

Abeer Attia Tawfik and Rama Ahmad Ali declare no competing interests.

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Tawfik, A.A., Ali, R.A. Intense pulsed light in the management of post-burn keloid and hypertrophic scar: a comparative study. Eur J Plast Surg 46, 1323–1329 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-023-02103-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-023-02103-y

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