Comparative treatment of small diameter (< or =400 microm) vascular lesions using extended pulse dye lasers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Extended-pulse dye lasers (EPDL) are commonly used to treat a variety of vascular lesions. This study evaluated whether differences in pulse formats and cooling methods might affect outcome in the treatment of small facial telangictasia.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten subjects presenting with symmetric, bilateral facial telangiectasia were studied. Each side of the face was treated with either the V-Startrade mark smart-cool air cooling (Cynosure, Inc.) (VS) or V-beam DCD cooling (Candela, Inc.) (VB) EPDL treatments with both systems were undertaken with a 10-milliseconds pulse duration, 1 J/cm(2) below the purpuric threshold, with up to three passes.

RESULTS

Treatment clearance with the VS EPDL occurred with a lower fluence, using fewer passes than with the VB EPDL (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Although both the currently popular EPDL systems are highly effective in the treatment of small facial telangiectasia, clinical differences can be seen between these two systems.