Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Lasers for Becker’s nevus

Lasers in Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Cite this article

Abstract

Becker’s nevus is a common pigmented dermatosis, usually featured by ipsilateral pigmented patch with hypertrichosis. Becker’s nevus is often treated with various types of lasers although other regimens are available. However, clinical outcomes appear inconsistent among studies. To summarize the clinical outcomes of Becker’s nevus treated with lasers via literature review. A variety of lasers had been used alone or in combination to treat Becker’s nevus. Laser wavelengths used for Becker’s nevus ranged from 504 to 10,600 nm, while the number of treatment varied from 1 to 12 sessions. The clinical outcomes were mixed although combination of lasers with different wavelengths appeared to achieve a better efficacy. Adverse effects were usually mild to moderate erythema. While lasers are relatively safe, their efficacy for Becker’s nevus is moderate. It seems that combination therapy could improve the outcome. However, trials in larger group of patients are required to validate the efficacy of each type of lasers for Becker’s nevus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. de Almeida HL Jr, Duquia RP, Souza PR, Breunig Jde A (2010) Prevalence and characteristics of Becker nevus in Brazilian 18-year-old males. Int J Dermatol 49:718–720

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Ballone E, Fazii P, Lappa G, Di Mascio R, Di Mascio C, Schioppa F (2003) Prevalence of Becker's nevi in a population of young men in Central Italy. J Am Acad Dermatol 48:795

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kim YJ, Roh MR, Lee JH, Na JI, Ko JY, Jung JM, Lee JH, Chang SE (2018) Clinicopathologic characteristics of early-onset Becker's nevus in Korean children and adolescents. Int J Dermatol 57:55–61

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Sood A, D'Souza P, Verma KK (1998) Becker's naevus occurring at birth and in early childhood. Acta Derm Venereol 78:311

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Fehr B, Panizzon RG, Schnyder UW (1991) Becker’s nevus and malignant melanoma. Dermatologica 182:77–80

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Rao AG (2015) Bilateral symmetrical congenital Giant Becker's nevus: a rare presentation. Indian J Dermatol 60:522

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Rasi A, Berenji Ardestani H, Tabaie SM (2014) Hypertrichosis is not so prevalent in Becker's nevus: analysis of 47 cases. ISRN Dermatol 2014:953747

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Hernandez-Quiceno S, Uribe-Bojanini E, Ramírez-Jiménez JJ et al (2016) Becker's nevus syndrome in a pediatric female patient. Case Rep Pediatr 2016:3856518

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Zhong Y, Chen Y, Huang L, Wang H, Yan T, Yang B, Man MQ (2018, 2018) Lightening Becker nevus with topical glycolic acid. J Am Acad Dermatol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2018.07.016

  10. Tan OT, Morelli JG, Kurban AK (1992) Pulsed dye laser treatment of benign cutaneous pigmented lesions. Lasers Surg Med 12:538–542

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Tse Y, Levine VJ, McClain SA, Ashinoff R (1994) The removal of cutaneous pigmented lesions with the Q-switched ruby laser and the Q-switched neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser. A comparative study. J Dermatol Surg Oncol 20:795–800

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Suh DH, Han KH, Chung JH (2001) The use of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of superficial pigmented lesions in Koreans. J Dermatol Treat 12:91–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Piccolo D, Di Marcantonio D, Crisman G, Cannarozzo G, Sannino M, Chiricozzi A, Chimenti S (2014) Unconventional use of intense pulsed light. Biomed Res Int 2014:618206

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Moreno Arias GA, Ferrando J (2001) Intense pulsed light for melanocytic lesions. Dermatol Surg 27:397–400

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kopera D, Hohenleutner U, Landthaler M (1997) Quality-switched ruby laser treatment of solar lentigines and Becker's nevus: a histopathological and immunohistochemical study. Dermatology 194:338–343

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Nelson JS, Applebaum J (1992) Treatment of superficial cutaneous pigmented lesions by melanin-specific selective photothermolysis using the Q-switched ruby laser. Ann Plast Surg 29:231–237

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Nanni CA, Alster TS (1998) Treatment of a Becker's nevus using a 694-nm long-pulsed ruby laser. Dermatol Surg 24:1032–1034

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Choi JE, Kim JW, Seo SH, Son SW, Ahn HH, Kye YC (2009) Treatment of Becker's nevi with a long-pulse alexandrite laser. Dermatol Surg 35:1105–1108

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Alegre-Sanchez A, Jiménez-Gómez N, Moreno-Arrones ÓM, Fonda-Pascual P, Pérez-García B, Jaén-Olasolo P (2018) Boixeda P (2018) treatment of flat and elevated pigmented disorders with a 755-nm alexandrite picosecond laser: clinical and histological evaluation. Lasers Med Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-018-2459-z

  20. Chan JC, Shek SY, Kono T, Yeung CK, Chan HH (2016) A retrospective analysis on the management of pigmented lesions using a picosecond 755-nm alexandrite laser in Asians. Lasers Surg Med 48:23–29

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Levin MK, Ng E, Bae YS, Brauer JA, Geronemus RG (2016) Treatment of pigmentary disorders in patients with skin of color with a novel 755 nm picosecond, Q-switched ruby, and Q-switched Nd:YAG nanosecond lasers: a retrospective photographic review. Lasers Surg Med 48:181–187

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Lapidoth M, Adatto M, Cohen S, Ben-Amitai D, Halachmi S (2014) Hypertrichosis in Becker's nevus: effective low-fluence laser hair removal. Lasers Med Sci 29:191–193

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Trelles MA, Allones I, Moreno-Arias GA, Vélez M (2005) Becker's naevus: a comparative study between erbium: YAG and Q-switched neodymium:YAG; clinical and histopathological findings. Br J Dermatol 152:308–313

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Trelles MA, Allones I, Vélez M, Moreno-Arias GA (2004) Becker's nevus: Erbium:YAG versus Q-switched neodimium:YAG? Lasers Surg Med 34:295–297

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Koch D, Pratsou P, Szczecinska W, Lanigan S, Abdullah A (2015) The diverse application of laser hair removal therapy: a tertiary laser unit's experience with less common indications and a literature overview. Lasers Med Sci 30:453–467

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Glaich AS, Goldberg LH, Dai T, Kunishige JH, Friedman PM (2007) Fractional resurfacing: a new therapeutic modality for Becker's nevus. Arch Dermatol 143:1488–1490

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Al-Saif F, Al-Mekhadab E, Al-Saif H (2017) Efficacy and safety of short-pulse erbium: yttrium aluminum garnet laser treatment of Becker's nevus in Saudi patients: a pilot study. Int J Health Sci (Qassim) 11:14–17

    Google Scholar 

  28. Meesters AA, Wind BS, Kroon MW, Wolkerstorfer A, van der Veen JP, Nieuweboer-Krobotová L, van der Wal AC, Bos JD, Beek JF (2011) Ablative fractional laser therapy as treatment for Becker nevus: a randomized controlled pilot study. J Am Acad Dermatol 65:1173–1179

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Wind BS, Meesters AA, Kroon MW, Beek JF, van der Veen JP, van der Wal AC, Bos JD, Wolkerstorfer A (2012) Formation of fibrosis after nonablative and ablative fractional laser therapy. Dermatol Surg 38:437–442

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Wulkan AJ, McGraw T, Taylor M (2018) Successful treatment of Becker's nevus with long-pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG and 755-nm alexandrite laser and review of the literature. J Cosmet Laser Ther 20:211–214

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Balaraman B, Friedman PM (2016) Hypertrichotic Becker's nevi treated with combination 1,550 nm non-ablative fractional photothermolysis and laser hair removal. Lasers Surg Med 48:350–353

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Murray A, Basu R, Fairclough PD, Wood RF (1989) Gallstone lithotripsy with the pulsed dye laser: in vitro studies. Br J Surg 76:457–460

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Kollias N, Baqer AH (1987) Absorption mechanisms of human melanin in the visible, 400-720 nm. J Investig Dermatol 89:384–388

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Ranaweera A. https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/ruby-laser-treatment/. Obtained on 11/16/2018

  35. Jung HJ, Moon SY, Sohn MY, Jang YH, Lee SJ, Kim DW, Lee WJ (2017) Some Becker's nevus melanocytes remain alive after treatment with Q-switched alexandrite laser. Ann Dermatol 29:352–355

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Zhu W, Qian L, Helmy AS. http://www.ecf.utoronto.ca/~qianli/publications/Etop07_EDFA_full%20paper_submit_revised2.pdf. Obtained on 11/16/2018

  37. Hassan AM, Elfar NN, Rizk OM, Eissa NY (2018) Pulsed dye laser versus intense pulsed light in melasma: a split-face comparative study. J Dermatol Treat 29:725–732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Li N, Han J, Hu D, Cheng J, Wang H, Wang Y, Yang X, Liu J, Li T, Zhao W (2018) Intense pulsed light is effective in treating postburn hyperpigmentation and telangiectasia in Chinese patients. J Cosmet Laser Ther:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/14764172.2017.1418517

  39. El Bedewi AF (2004) Hair removal with intense pulsed light. Lasers Med Sci 19:48–51

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Taylor CR, Anderson RR (1993) Treatment of benign pigmented epidermal lesions by Q-switched ruby laser. Int J Dermatol 32:908–912

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Nistico SP, Del Duca E, Farnetani F, Guida S, Pellacani G, Rajabi-Estarabadi A, Nouri K (2018) Removal of unwanted hair: efficacy, tolerability, and safety of long-pulsed 755-nm alexandrite laser equipped with a sapphire handpiece. Lasers Med Sci 33:1479–1483

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Simşek Kaya G, Yapici Yavuz G, Sümbüllü MA, Dayi E (2012) A comparison of diode laser and Er:YAG lasers in the treatment of gingival melanin pigmentation. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 113:293–299

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Moody MN, Landau JM, Goldberg LH, Friedman PM (2012) Fractionated 1550-nm erbium-doped fiber laser for the treatment of periorbital hyperpigmentation. Dermatol Surg 38:139–142

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Kilmer SL, Garden JM (2000) Laser treatment of pigmented lesions and tattoos. Semin Cutan Med Surg 19:232–244

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was funded in part by NIH grants (AR061106), with resources from the Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aesthetic Department, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510091, China

    Yiping Zhong, Bin Yang, Lining Huang & Mao-Qiang Man

  2. Dermatology Services, Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA

    Peter M. Elias & Mao-Qiang Man

Authors
  1. Yiping Zhong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bin Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lining Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Peter M. Elias
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mao-Qiang Man
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mao-Qiang Man.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhong, Y., Yang, B., Huang, L. et al. Lasers for Becker’s nevus. Lasers Med Sci 34, 1071–1079 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-019-02734-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-019-02734-3

Keywords

search

Navigation