TREATMENT OF NEVUS OTA - COMBINED SKIN ABRASION AND CARBON-DIOXIDE SNOW METHOD

Thirty-seven patients with nevus Ota were treated by skin abrasion-car bon dioxide snow therapy. Data obtained from 24 patients (including 5 infants) who completed treatment were analyzed to determine the number of treatment courses and to assess the outcome by color and histologi c type. The 5 infants completing treatment received a mean of 10 cours es of carbon dioxide snow therapy. Excluding these infants, the mean n umber of treatment courses was 3 for skin abrasion and 16 for carbon d ioxide snow therapy. The therapeutic outcome was satisfactory, being g raded as ''excellent'' in 6 patients, ''excellent to good'' in 6 patie nts, ''good'' in 10 patients, and ''fair'' in 2 patients. None of the patients had a ''poor'' outcome. Darker lesions were generally less re sponsive to treatment. Lesions with melanocytes in the superficial der mis showed a better response with fewer courses of treatment. Those wi th melanocytes throughout the whole dermis generally had a poorer outc ome. The results confirm that the benefits of this procedure are limit ed by the associated I,ain and the need for great skill and along trea tment duration.