TREATMENT OF ANGIOMA SERPIGINOSUM USING A PULSED TUNABLE DYE-LASER

Angioma serpiginosum (AS) is a rare vascular naevoid disorder due to e ctatic dilation of capillaries in the papillary dermis. The condition is found almost exclusively in females who have grouped erythematous p unctate lesions usually on the lower limbs or buttocks, which may be u nsightly. We report five patients with AS treated using a Candela SPLT 1 pulsed tunable dye laser, All patients had a good to excellent respo nse, The lesion resolved in one patient, virtually resolved in two and is considerably improved in a further patient in whom treatment is co ntinuing. In one patient, the angiomatous lesion improved but the pati ent developed hyperpigmentation at the treatment site and the treatmen t has been temporarily suspended, The results suggest that treatment u sing the pulsed dye laser is very effective for AS and, in most patien ts, produces an excellent cosmetic result.