Dm. Hexsel et al., Clinical comparative study between cryotherapy and local dermabrasion for the treatment of solar lentigo on the back of the hands, DERM SURG, 26(5), 2000, pp. 457-462
BACKGROUND. Solar lentigo is a common and unsightly dermatosis that has a v
ariety of proposed treatments.
OBJECTIVE. This study was done to assess the efficacy and the effectiveness
of localized dermabrasion compared with cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen o
n solar lentigo on the back of the hands.
METHODS. Ten female patients aged 64-96 years with solar lentigo on the bac
k of the hands were treated with dermabrasion or cryotherapy and observed o
ver a 6-month period.
RESULTS. The postsurgery signs and symptoms were less intense and better to
lerated with localized dermabrasion. More than 50% of the patients treated
with cryotherapy still had hypochromia in the treated areas 6 months after
treatment, compared with 11% of the patients treated with dermabrasion. The
percentage of recurrence was the same with the both treatments (55.55%).
CONCLUSION. Localized dermabrasion is an efficacious and effective techniqu
e comparable to cryotherapy for the treatment of solar lentigo on the back
of the hands.