LONG-PULSE 532-NM LASER TREATMENT OF FACIAL TELANGIECTASIA

BACKGROUND. Facial telangiectasias are a frequently observed cosmetic concern. Current therapeutic modalities have certain side effects and limitations. We treated a group of patients with facial telangiectasia s with a new variable pulse width frequency-doubled neodymium:YAG lase r at 532 nm. OBJECTIVE. This study evaluated the clinical response and side effects during the treatment of facial telangiectasias in 40 pat ients. METHODS. Forty patients with facial telangiectasias were treate d with the VersaPulse laser. Fluences of between 9.5 and 12.0 J/cm(2) at 3 or 4-mm spot size were used. A sapphire water-cooled chill tip wa s used to cool the cutaneous surface during treatment. RESULTS. Ninety percent of patients experienced between 75% and 100% clearance of the ir facial telangiectasias after single treatment. No significant side effects or complications were noted. CONCLUSION. The VersaPulse variab le pulse width neodymium:YAG laser appears to be an effective treatmen t modality for facial telangiectasia. (C) 1998 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.