Pulsed dye laser on ecchymoses: clinical and histological assessment

Optoacoustic monitoring of bilirubin photodegradation

Hematomas resulted from trauma are very common, and the efficacy of existing treatment techniques is limited. Phototherapy can be used to expedite healing and improve the appearance of the damaged tissue. Efficient phototherapy requires determination of chromophore composition in hematoma, which can be provided by the optoacoustic (OA) technique, as it combines high spatial resolution and optical contrast. Here, we conducted experiments on photodegradation of bilirubin in gelatin slin phantoms. We have demonstrated that the OA technique allows monitoring of bilirubin concentration during photodegradation, and also distinguishing bilirubin concentration in depth. The obtained results suggest that OA monitoring may be used for efficient hematoma phototherapy.

Photobiomodulation of acute pain syndrome after septoplasty

The paper evaluates the effectiveness of the use of therapeutic laser exposure (photobiomodulation therapy – PBMT) to minimize acute pain in the early postoperative period in patients after septoplasty. The study included two groups of patients. Patients of the first group (31 patients) underwent septoplasty with standard management in the postoperative period. Patients of the second group (31 patients) also underwent septoplasty, and then added PBMT to the standard measures of the postoperative period at 3, 6 and 24 h after septoplasty (λ = 0.890 μm, P = 10 W, 2 min) and then intranasally 48 h after septoplasty (λ = 0.630 μm, P = 8 W, 2 min). In patients of both groups, heart rate variability and pain were assessed using a visual analog scale within 48 hours after septoplasty. In patients of the second group, after the use of PBMT, the indicators of heart rate variability had a significantly lower total power, compared with patients of the first group. So, after PBMT, the ultra-low-frequency component of the spectral analysis of heart rate variability in the first group was 18580 ± 2067 ms2, which is significantly higher than in the second group (8086 ± 3003 ms2) (p <0.001). The low-frequency component of heart rate variability was also significantly higher in the first group (1871 ± 405 ms2) compared to the second (1095 ± 190 ms2) (p <0.005), which indicates an increase in the tension of the sympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system in the group without the use of PBMT. In the first 3 hours after surgery, the severity of pain between the groups did not differ significantly (p = 0.07). In the period from 6 to 24 hours after surgery, patients who did not undergo PBMT experienced significantly higher pain than patients with PBMT (p <0.001). Thus, in our study, the group of patients with PBMT showed better results in pain and heart rate variability compared to the classical rehabilitation of patients after septoplasty.

Intense Pulsed Light as a Treatment for Senile Purpura: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Senile purpura is a common condition characterized by recurrent ecchymoses in the elderly on the extensor surfaces of the forearms, hands, and legs. Our objective is to assess the efficacy and safety of a protocol using intense pulsed light (BBL; Sciton Inc., Palo Alto, CA) to improve the appearance of senile purpura on subjects' extensor forearms.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS

Five subjects over 65 years of age, with ecchymotic lesions measuring over 1 cm on each forearm and five younger subjects under 35 years of age, without any ecchymotic lesions, were included in the study. The subjects were treated on one randomized forearm with a new intense pulsed light protocol for four weekly sessions. Photographs and subject questionnaires were taken weekly before each treatment as well as 1 month after all treatments. Skin biopsies were taken 1 day after the last of four weekly treatments. Histological analysis, including hematoxylin and eosin, elastic van Gieson, and Masson's Trichrome staining, were carried out to assess both the epidermal thickness and dermal connective tissue structure. The protocol consists of multiple passes using an intense pulsed light (BBL; Sciton Inc.) device in which the wavelength, filter, and fluence are adjusted for each step. Step 1 uses infrared light (800-1,400 nm), high intensity, a smooth adapter, and a constant motion technique. Step 2 employs a 590-nm filter with two different fluences and step 3 utilizes a 560-nm filter. The fluence of steps 2-3 is increased by 1 J each treatment if no side effects are noted.

RESULTS

Using a new intense pulsed light protocol in subjects with senile purpura, both the number and square area of ecchymoses on the treated arm were significantly reduced (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively, paired t test) as compared with the untreated arm at 1 month after four weekly treatments. Despite this pilot study including challenging cases of subjects on both inhaled and injected corticosteroids and blood thinners, all subjects with senile purpura had at least a 50% reduction in the total square area of their ecchymoses on their treated arm. There were no significant or long-lasting side effects, and all subjects reported satisfaction with the treatment with a desire to continue treatments on their control arm. Blinded evaluators were able to select 100% of the time in the subjects with senile purpura, which was the treated arm as compared with the control arm when reviewing photographs from 1 month after the last treatment. In addition, several subjects were noted to have a significant improvement in the appearance of hemosiderin deposition and photodamage. Histologically, intense pulsed light treatments significantly increased epidermal thickness in elderly subjects by 21.14% (P = 0.0153, two-tailed, paired t test), to levels comparable with young subjects. Such restoration is consistent with the other histological observations by blinded evaluators of more abundant and organized collagen fibers in the dermis and reduced aggregates of disorganized elastin fibers.

CONCLUSION

This new intense pulsed light protocol is safe and effective in improving the clinical appearance of senile purpura as well as preventing future lesions by improving the structure of the skin by increasing epidermal thickness and improving collagen and elastic fiber morphology. The treatment was well-tolerated, adverse effects were minimal, and there was high patient satisfaction. Lasers Surg. Med. 2020. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Effect of Photobiomodulation on Ecchymosis after Rhinoplasty: A Randomized Single-Blind Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to compare the effect of photobiomodulation therapy (low-level laser therapy) on ecchymosis after rhinoplasty.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Sixty rhinoplasty candidates were randomly divided into two groups. Photobiomodulation, including red light (660 nm), infrared light (840 nm), and infrared laser, was used in the first group on the first postoperative day, and its effect on periorbital ecchymosis was evaluated.

RESULTS

The findings showed that low-power laser reduced ecchymosis significantly (p = 0.005^*).

CONCLUSION

Photobiomodulation may be effectively used for reducing ecchymosis after rhinoplasty.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 . RCT registration number is IRCT20080820001056N3.

Nonvascular uses of pulsed dye laser in clinical dermatology

Lasers are fast becoming the vogue of dermatology ranging from ablative, nonablative, fractional photothermolysis to vascular lasers. There are a range of vascular lasers including potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP 532 nm), pulsed dye laser (PDL -595 nm), diode (810 nm), and Nd:YAG (1064 nm). PDL is a laser that emits yellow light using Rhodamine dye as it is lasing medium. Typical vascular lesions which are treated by PDL include port wine stain, hemangioma, telangiectasia, spider angioma, and rosacea. This article focuses on the use of PDL beyond primary vascular conditions. We review the evidence, or lack thereof, of the use of PDL in acne vulgaris, scars, striae, warts, molluscum, psoriasis, rejuvenation, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and miscellaneous dermatological sequelae.