Reversal of Laser-Induced Hypopigmentation with a Narrow-Band UV-B Light Source in a Patient with Skin Type VI

Treatment of Nevus of Ota in Black patients with the 1064 nm QS or picosecond laser and nonablative fractional photothermolysis

OBJECTIVES

Nevus of Ota is a benign melanocytic lesion that presents as a unilateral blue gray to brown facial patch favoring the distribution of the first two branches of the trigeminal nerve. Incidence is highest in Asian and Black populations, however, the overwhelming majority of studies are limited to diagnosis and treatment in Asian patients. We herein present 10 Black patients with Fitzpatrick skin types (FST) V and VI who underwent laser treatment for Nevus of Ota.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of Black patients presenting with Nevus of Ota. Race was self-designated by all patients and documented in the medical record at the time of initial consultation. Primary outcomes were based on improvement using before and after photographs which were graded by three independent board-certified dermatologists using a 5-point visual analog scale.

RESULTS

Ten FST V or VI patients with an age range of 9 months to 45 years were treated for Nevus of Ota. All patients were treated with the 1064 nm Q-switched neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (QS Nd:YAG) and on average received 4.7 treatments at 2-10 month intervals. Fluence ranged from 1.8 to 2.3 J/cm² , and total pulse count ranged from 510.9 to 776.6. 2/10 patients were additionally treated with 1550 nm nonablative fractional resurfacing (NAFR), and 1/10 patients underwent combination therapy with both NAFR and 1064 nm picosecond laser therapy. Overall, patients saw a mean improvement of 51%-75% at follow-up 5-254 weeks (mean 51.5 weeks) after treatment. Three patients experienced mild guttate hypopigmentation in treated areas. No other long-term adverse events were encountered.

CONCLUSION

1064 nm QS Nd:YAG laser therapy is a safe and efficacious treatment for Nevus of Ota in patients with FST V and VI. When patient improvement plateaus, combining therapy with 1550 nm NAFR or transitioning to 1064 nm picosecond laser may be of benefit. Patients should be counseled on the risk of guttate hypopigmentation. This is the largest case series to date of Black patients with Nevus of Ota, highlighting the need for further investigation to determine optimal device settings and treatment parameters for this population.

Treatment of Laser Therapy-Induced Punctate Leukoderma Using a 308-nm Excimer Laser

Punctate leukoderma presents as numerous, distinct, round or oval depigmented spots. Recently, laser therapy-induced punctate leukoderma associated with various Q-switched laser and carbon dioxide laser have been reported. A 25-year-old man presented with numerous, discrete, round, confetti-like, depigmented macules on his left neck. He had undergone 3 sessions of 532-nm Q-switched Neodymium: Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser treatment for café-au-lait macules three years ago. After the last laser treatment session, the punctate leukoderma had been developed. We started treatment with the 308-nm excimer laser twice a week. After 7 months of treatment duration, complete repigmentation was achieved without serious adverse effects. We recommend the 308-nm excimer laser as an effective treatment modality for laser therapy-induced punctate leukoderma.

Successful treatment of laser induced hypopigmentation with narrowband ultraviolet B targeted phototherapy

Q-switched 1064 nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Qs 1064 nm Nd: YAG) laser plays an important role in the treatment of pigmentary skin disorders, including tattoos. Although it has high efficacy and safety, adverse effect like hypopigmentation may occur causing anxiety to patients. We present a case report of Qs 1064 nm Nd: YAG laser induced hypopigmentation which was successfully treated with ultraviolet B targeted phototherapy, with rapid and satisfactory re-pigmentation.