Generalized essential telangiectasia successfully treated with high-energy, long-pulse, frequency-doubled Nd : YAG laser

BACKGROUND. Generalized essential telangiectasia is a rare cutaneous disord er with limited therapeutic options. OBJECTIVE. TO evaluate the treatment with high-energy, high-frequency, long -pulse Nd:YAG laser in a patient with generalized essential telangiectasia. METHODS. A 62-year-old woman presented with a 20-year history of generalize d essential telangiectasia. She had extensive telangiectasias primarily on the forearms and lower legs. The patient was treated with an Nd:YAG laser u sing a fluence of 20 J/cm(2) and a pulse width of 20 msec. A sapphire water cooled chill tip was used to cool the skin during laser therapy. The treat ment was performed every 4 weeks over a period of 6 months. RESULTS. After six treatment sessions an almost complete clearance of telan giectatic lesions was observed. Side effects such as purpura, scarring, and pain did not occur. After a follow-up of 6 months, small telangiectatic le sions relapsed. CONCLUSION. Our results suggest that the Nd:YAG laser appears to be an effe ctive and safe treatment option for generalized essential telangiectasia.