TREATMENT OF FACIAL TELANGIECTASES WITH THE DIODE-PUMPED FREQUENCY-DOUBLED Q-SWITCHED ND-YAG LASER

BACKGROUND. Many individuals develop telangiectases our the face as th ey mature. The causative factors are numerous. Telangiectases are cosm etically concerning Jar many of those who are affected. Because of the ability to selectively target vessels, lasers have recently become th e focus for treating small facial telangiectases. OBJECTIVE. The purpo se of this study peas to evaluate the efficacy of the diode-pumped fre quency-doubled Q-switched neodymium: ytterium-aluminum-garnet (FD QSNd :YAG) laser (532 nm) for the treatment of telangiectases on the face. METHODS. The diode-pumped FD QSNd:YAG laser (532 nm, 400-mu m spot siz e, 24-msec pulse train) was used to treat telangiectases on the face o f 30 adult subjects. Patients were treated once, and clinical improvem ent and potential adverse effects were assessed at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment. RESULTS. One session of diode-pumped FD QSNd:YAG laser tre atment either improved or totally cleared all treated facial telangiec tases. CONCLUSION. The diode-pumped FD QSNd:YAG laser is effective for treating small facial telangiectases, Art advantage of this laser is that it does not produce postoperative purpura. (C) 1998 by the Americ an Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Dermatol Surg 1998;24:828-83 2.