A novel cosmetic and clinically practicable laser immunotherapy for facial verruca plana: Intense pulsed light combined with BCG-PSN.

BACKGROUND

There is no standard method to remove facial verruca plana and achieve better cosmetic effects. The present study is the first study to use intense pulsed light (IPL) as photothermal therapy (PTT) combined with intra-gluteal injection of bacillus calmette-guerin polysaccharide nucleic acid (BCG-PSN), which function as immunotherapy, contracting a new type of clinically available laser immunotherapy (LIT) for the treatment of facial verruca plana. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, cosmetic outcome, and adverse reactions of IPL combined with BCG-PSN for facial verruca plana.

METHODS

Twenty-three patients with facial verruca plana were treated with IPL (560-nm filter, 15-17 J/cm) and all patients were given intra-gluteal injections of BCG-PSN twice a week for 8 weeks combined with IPL once a month in two times. The clinical responses, recurrences, adverse reactions, and rejuvenation outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

A complete and excellent response was noted in 17 patients (74%). Of the 676 treated warts, 548 were eradicated and the overall clearance rate was 81%. No patient relapsed during the 20-week follow-up. No obvious adverse reactions was observed. Almost all patients showed an improvement in skin texture after IPL treatment CONCLUSION: We conclude that a novel LIT based on BCG-PSN and IPL for the treatment of facial verruca plana proved to be a well-tolerated and effective treatment modality. This novel LIT can clear skin lesions and achieve a very good cosmetic effect.