CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE WITH THE PLDL-1 (PIGMENTED LESION DYE-LASER) IN THE TREATMENT OF PIGMENTED BIRTHMARKS - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Twenty patients aged between 2 years and 17 years (mean 9 years) with pigmented birthmarks, mainly of the head and neck, were treated with t he PLDL-1 laser (Pigmented Lesion Dye Laser-Candela Corporation, Wayla nd, Massachusetts, USA) which emits light with a wavelength of 510 nan ometers and a pulse duration of 300 +/- 50 nano-seconds. Nine patients (45%) showed excellent results after a test-patch was performed. Two patients (10%) showed some lightening of colour after initial test-pat ch. Six patients (30%) showed no improvement and 3 patients (15%) show ed some hyperpigmentation at the test-patch sites which had not disapp eared at 6 months follow-up. There was no change in the clinical behav iour at 6 months follow-up and no evidence of scarring was encountered .