AN EVALUATION OF THE COPPER-BROMIDE LASER FOR TREATING TELANGIECTASIA

BACKGROUND. Copper bromide lasers, producing pulsed yellow and green l ight, have been developed for treating cutaneous lesions. OBJECTIVE. A clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the role of this laser, usin g its yellow wavelength, to treat benign vascular ectasia and establis h some clinical guidelines for therapy. METHODS. Twenty-three informed consenting adults with facial telangiectasia, spider angiomas, or vas cular nevi on the head, neck, or upper chest were treated with the las er. Assessment of results was performed by: blinded clinical evaluatio n, blinded comparison of ''before'' and ''after'' photographs, and pat ients' own reports of satisfaction levels. RESULTS. Good to excellent results were obtained in most patients, except for a few suffering min or skin atrophy where very large vessels were treated. CONCLUSIONS. Th e copper bromide laser was an effective tool in the treatment of certa in cutaneous vascular lesions.