Background and objectives: Fractional ablative resurfacing techniques are preferred treatments for facial rejuvenation of aged skin. This study was performed to investigate the cutaneous effects of using a fractional picosecond laser at 1064 nm with a diffractive lens.
Methods: The penetration depth according to the location of the handpiece tip was evaluated using an acrylic panel. Laser induced optical breakdown (LIOB) and cutaneous damage were observed after hematoxylin and eosin staining in guinea pigs. Collagen formation was evaluated using Victoria staining, Masson's trichrome (MT) staining, and immunohistochemical staining for collagen type III.
Results: The penetration depth for LEVEL 1 was 499.98-935.23 μm (average: 668.75 ± 182.84 μm); the LIOB cavity area was 1664.17 ± 650.52 μm2. The penetration depth of LEVEL 2 was 257.12-287.38 μm (average: 269.77 ± 14.55 μm) with an LIOB cavity area of 1335.85 ± 214.41 μm2. At LEVEL 3, that was 36.17-53.69 μm (average: 52.15 ± 20.81 μm) and the LIOB cavity area was 1312.67 ± 1069.12 μm2. No epidermal tissue damage was observed and collagen formation was observed from day 14 under all conditions.
Conclusion: Diffractive optical element (DOE) lens arranged laser treatment system controlled the position of LIOB occurrence and an irradiating area.
This case series evaluated use of injectable platelet rich fibrin (termed i-PRF+) for the treatment of female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Eleven individuals underwent 3-monthly intradermal injections of i-PRF+ using a mesotherapy gun. The mean number of hair follicles containing hairs per unit area improved at 3- and 6-months follow-up (p < .001), and all participants had a negative hair pull test. Hair volume and thickness, and patient-reported outcome scores also improved at follow-up (p < .001). Adverse effects were minor and self-limited. A series of three i-PRF+ injection sessions were effective for the treatment of FPHL, as shown by improved hair analysis parameters and patient self-assessment scores.
Background: Alexandrite laser is more adapted for lighter hair but not for darker skin, while the Nd:YAG laser is more suitable for darker skin but not for lighter hair.
Objective: To evaluate both laser used as single treatment and in simultaneous emission for axillary hair removal.
Method: Ten patients (18-40 years old) were selected for this study. The spot size and pulse time were kept constant for all patients, 14 mm and 5 ms, respectively. The fluences were 20 to 28 J/cm2, 16 to 25 J/cm2, and 14-8 J/cm2 to 25-13 J/cm2 for Nd:YAG, alexandrite and the combined alex/YAG, respectively. Three treatment sessions were performed at 6-week interval, and patients were reviewed 4 months after the last session.
Results: The median number of hairs reduced from 46.00 to 33.00 (p = .022) for alexandrite, from 44.50 to 30.00 (p = .02) for Nd:YAG and from 56.00 to 19.50 (p = .005) for alexandrite-Nd:YAG, equivalent to 46.70%, 27.74% and 70.12% median hair reduction, respectively.
Conclusions: The simultaneous emission of both 755 nm and 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser is significantly more effective than a single laser treatment. Future studies are needed to confirm the good results of this innovative technique.
The prevalence of rosacea in skin of color (SOC) populations is estimated to be as high as 10% in some countries. Traditionally, intense pulsed light (IPL) and pulsed dye laser (PDL) have been the laser and energy-based devices (EBDs) used to treat rosacea. However, not all laser and EBDs are safe for SOC (Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI) due to increased absorption of energy in pigmented skin and increased risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring. This review summarizes the use of the top seven laser and EBDs for treating rosacea in SOC.
Skin whitening is a practice that is used to obtain lighter skin tone and is most prevalent in Africa and Asia. Substances used for this procedure, such as hydroquinone or mercury have a variety of side effects and are banned in several countries. This study examined the popularity of internet searches for terms related to skin whitening and bleaching creams with the use of GoogleTrends (GT). GT was searched globally for the topic "skin whitening" and two terms "hydroquinone cream" and "mercury cream" throughout a 10-year period (01.09.2013-31.08.2023). The popularity of searches increased during the analyzed period. The topic "skin whitening" was most popular in Sudan, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. The searches were higher for "hydroquinone cream" than "mercury cream" in almost all countries, besides the Philippines and Indonesia. Our study confirms that skin whitening practices are popular, especially among populations with darker skin tone. Despite potentially toxic side effects, creams with hydroquinone and mercury are increasingly searched worldwide. Education about skin whitening and the usage of bleaching substances should be implemented, especially in the regions of Africa and Asia.
Laser hair removal is a commonly used method in dermatology which is based on selective thermolysis and utilizes the appropriate wavelength, pulse width, and energy density to damage hair follicles. Given the prevalence of skin diseases such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and vitiligo, and the increasing popularity of laser hair removal, the aim of this study was to investigate the safety of laser hair removal in individuals with skin diseases. This retrospective study was conducted at the laser department of Razi Hospital on 99 patients who underwent laser hair removal. The exacerbation of disease after laser therapy was significantly associated with active skin disease (p = .021) and laser treatment at the site of the disease (p < .001). The incidence of Koebner phenomenon was significantly associated with age (p = .017) and the number of sessions with the ND-YAG device (p = .034). It is crucial to exercise caution when performing laser treatment on individuals with active skin disease and to avoid treating the affected area were possible. If necessary, it is recommended to delay laser treatment until the disease is under control for patients with active skin disease or those who wish to receive laser treatment at the site of the disease.
Photopneumatic therapy (PPT) combines vacuum and pulsed, broadband light to extract debris and bacteria from the pilosebaceous units; monotherapy is unexplored. Facial acne lesions and skin texture were evaluated after up to six PPT treatments, 1-2 weeks apart for 15-20 minutes per treatment using customized energy settings, in seven female patients with inflammatory, comedonal and pustular lesions. Lesion and redness reduction with improvement in skin texture and pore size were observed after 1-3 treatments; adverse effects were infrequent. PPT may optimize lesion clearance as monotherapy and/or as an adjuvant. The ability to change pulse structure, pulse duration, vacuum pressure and fluence allow for treatment that best matches skin type and acne severity.
Reed Syndrome, or hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma syndrome, is a rare, autosomal dominant genetic condition that predisposes individuals to a triad of cutaneous leiomyomas, uterine leiomyomas and renal cell carcinoma. Cutaneous leiomyomas are often the first manifestation of the syndrome, occurring in 76% of patients and average 26 in number. We present a case of a 47 year old female with Reed Syndrome with an unusually extensive cutaneous burden, with a total of 361 cutaneous lesions, far above the average reported number of 26. Due to the extent of her cutaneous burden, painful nature of the lesions and failure to respond to standard therapies, she was referred for fully ablative Erbium:Yag laser resurfacing therapy. The use of fully ablative Erbium:YAG laser resurfacing therapy for treatment of cutaneous leiomyomas has not been reported in the literature to date. One year following laser therapy, the treatment area not only began to repigment, but there was also no evidence of cutaneous leiomyomas recurrence or associated pain. Given the effectiveness of this unique therapy, fully ablative Erbium:YAG laser resurfacing should be kept in mind as a treatment option for both cosmetic and symptomatic cutaneous leiomyomas.
Microneedle fractional radiofrequency (MFRF) has been used to improve photoaging and scars. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MFRF with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for facial atrophic acne scars and skin rejuvenation by blinded visual evaluation, self-report, and reflective confocal microscopy (RCM). Fifteen subjects were randomized to the MFRF with bFGF group and fifteen to the MFRF group. All subjects underwent three-session therapy and a follow-up period. Significant group differences were in ECCA, global improvement score, satisfaction, and downtime before and after treatment. Combination therapy could be more effective than monotherapy for acne scars and facial rejuvenation. In addition, RCM can be used to observe the changes in skin collagen before and after treatment in evaluating cosmetic efficacy.

