The treatment of facial verrucae with the pulsed dye laser.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the treatment of facial verrucae with the pulsed dye laser.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective, nonrandomized, nonblinded pilot study evaluating the treatment of facial verrucae with the pulsed dye laser.

METHODS

Twelve patients with facial verrucae (four recalcitrant) were identified and followed in the study in the setting of a tertiary referral center. The treatment consisted of the flash-lamp pumped pulsed dye laser (585 mn) with a spot size of 5 mm at fluences between 9.0 and 13 J/cm. Each lesion received one or two pulses with 2 mm of surrounding normal skin included in the treatment. One patient had paring prior to pulse treatment. The patients were examined 3 to 4 weeks after each procedure, and clinical assessment of the lesion was documented.

RESULTS

Patient ages ranged from 18 to 47 years. Four patients had refractory lesions, and eight patients had never undergone previous treatment. All 12 patients had full resolution of their facial warts after one to three treatment sessions. No complications such as scarring, alopecia, or recurrence were encountered. Follow-up ranged from 10 to 33 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulsed dye laser therapy is highly effective and safe therapy for facial verrucae. This method appears to selectively destroy warts without damaging surrounding skin.