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Treatment of 153 Japanese patients with Q-switched alexandrite laser

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Abstract

We have recently used Q-switched alexandrite laser for the treatment of various kinds of pigmented skin lesions. We retrospectively compared therapeutic outcomes of 153 Japanese patients who consulted our department. This approach was not very efficient for nevus spilus/café-au-lait spots, which seemed laser-resistant, especially when the pigmentation had appeared after 1 year of age, was treated after 5 years of age, was located on the face, was oval with a smooth border, and the patient was male. This approach was equally effective for senile lentigo, nevus of Ota, and Mongolian spots, but less effective for acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules. Some patients with sacral Mongolian spots or those with light-colored, senile lentigo developed severe post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after treatment. As a whole, good therapeutic outcome was achieved after multiple treatment sessions. However, the use of other lasers or other treatment modalities should be considered to treat nevus spilus/café-au-lait spots.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan

    Shinji Kagami, Rei Watanabe, Yoshihiro Mimura, Akira Shirai, Naoko Hattori, Takahiro Watanabe & Kunihiko Tamaki

  2. Department of Dermatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, 18-1 Sakuradai, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa, 228-8522, Japan

    Akihiko Asahina

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  1. Shinji Kagami
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  2. Akihiko Asahina
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  3. Rei Watanabe
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  4. Yoshihiro Mimura
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  5. Akira Shirai
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  6. Naoko Hattori
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  7. Takahiro Watanabe
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  8. Kunihiko Tamaki
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Correspondence to Shinji Kagami.

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Kagami, S., Asahina, A., Watanabe, R. et al. Treatment of 153 Japanese patients with Q-switched alexandrite laser. Lasers Med Sci 22, 159–163 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-006-0436-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-006-0436-4

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