Efficacy and safety of 532-nm and 1,064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser treatment of frictional dermal melanosis over bony prominences (Lifa disease).

BACKGROUND

Frictional dermal melanosis over bony prominences (Lifa disease) is a common pigmentary skin disorder in Iraqi patients. Q-switched lasers are the gold standard treatment of correcting pigmentation; among them are the 532-nm and 1,064-nm lasers.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of these lasers in the treatment of hyperpigmentation due to Lifa disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective, comparative, controlled, split-lesion clinical trial study was designed. Nineteen female patients with clinical diagnosis of Lifa disease were enrolled. Each patient was treated for 3 sessions at 2-week intervals. A 532-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was used on the left side and 1,064-nm on the right side of each lesion. Both objective and subjective parameters were assessed 1 and 3 months after the last treatment session. Darkness score, photographic assessment and patient satisfaction, and improvement of itch were recorded, respectively.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients completed the study. The color score changes of both sides demonstrated that although both lasers were effective in reducing the pigmentation, the 1,064-nm wavelength had a more significant response. Similar results were obtained for the photographic evaluations and patient satisfaction scores. These changes were sustained throughout the 3 month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Both lasers were effective in the treatment of pigmentation abnormalities caused by Lifa disease. However, the efficacy was greater with the 1,064-nm wavelength.