MINOCYCLINE-INDUCED HYPERPIGMENTATION - TREATMENT WITH THE Q-SWITCHEDND-YAG LASER

Background and Objective: Cutaneous hyperpigmentations are well-docume nted, but nevertheless rare side-effects of high-dose or long-term min ocycline therapy. The pigmental changes, may last for years, even thou gh therapy has been abrogated. To date, no safe and effective therapy has been described to target this cosmetically disturbing sequela. Stu dy Design/Materials and Methods: A 57-year-old female patient with ext ensive pigmental changes of the face due to long-term minocycline ther apy was treated in eight consecutive sessions with the Q-switched Nd:Y AG-laser (1,064-nm wavelength, 5- to 7-nsec impulse length). Results: A 90% resolution of the pigmentation could be achieved after five trea tments. After the last session the lesions were completely gone; no hy popigmentation scars, or other side-effects were observed. Conclusion: Treatment with the Q-switched Nd:YAG; laser seems to be an effective, safe, and easily applicable strategy for the therapy of minocycline-i nduced hyperpigmentations. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.