Treatment of multiple eruptive hair cysts with erbium : YAG laser

BACKGROUND. Eruptive vellus hair cysts (EVHC) frequently resist a variety o f treatment modalities. While pulsed carbon dioxide (CO2) laser has been us ed effectively for facial EVHC, this laser presents significant risks for h ypertrophic scarring when used on truncal sites. Due to absorption of 2940 nm energy by both tissue water and protein, the erbium:yttrium-aluminum-gar net (Er:YAG) laser ablates more cleanly and creates less residual thermal i njury in the wound bed. This laser might prove efficacious and safe in trea ting nonfacial EVHC. OBJECTIVE. TO assess treatment efficacy and wound healing after Er:YAG lase r ablation of EVHC. METHODS. TWO patients with 32 truncal EVHC were treated with pulsed Er:YAG laser using a drilling technique followed by second intention healing. RESU LTS. Laser treatment sites healed without permanent dyspigmentation or hype rtrophic scarring. No lesion recurrence was observed. CONCLUSION. Er:YAG laser ablation is an effective method for treating EVHC at anatomic sites prone to hypertrophic scar formation.