Effects of topical vitamin K and retinol on laser-induced purpura on nonlesional skin

BACKGROUND. Pulsed dye laser treatments usually result in purpura. Any topi cal application that eliminates or shortens the duration of purpura would b e extremely useful. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the safet y and efficacy of topical vitamin K cream in shortening the duration of las er-induced purpura. METHODS. Twenty adult subjects were enrolled. Each subject had five 1.5 cm sites treated with a pulsed dye laser at 585 nm, 450 nsec, 7 mm spot size a t each subject's respective threshold fluence. Each subject had a control s ite where no topical application was used and four other sites where a diff erent formulation was applied to each for 2 weeks before and for 2 weeks af ter laser irradiation. Five vitamin K formulations with or without retinol were studied: 3% vitamin K in acrylates copolymer cream, 5% vitamin It in a crylates copolymer cream, 1% vitamin It and 0.3% retinol in acrylates copol ymer cream, 1% vitamin It and 0.15% retinol in acrylates copolymer cream, 1 % free vitamin It cream. Purpuric discoloration at each site was rated on d ays 0, 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14 after laser treatment on a quartile scale. Each site was assigned 100% discoloration on day 0 after laser irradiation. RESULTS. Laser-induced purpuric discoloration resolved faster with 1% vitam in It and 0.3% retinol in acrylates copolymer cream than with no topical ap plication. The difference is statistically significant from day 3 onward. CONCLUSION. A combination of 1% vitamin It and 0.3% retinol in acrylates co polymer cream hastened the resolution of laser-induced purpura.