Treatment of arborising telangiectasia with pulsed tunable dye laser (SPTL-1b)

Arborising telangiectasia is a rare but distinct progressive condition of unknown aetiology. The vessels are subepidermal and measure less than 0.2 mm in diameter. Twenty-three patients with this condition, involving the lower limbs and in extensive cases the upper limbs and trunk, have been treated with the flash lamp pulsed tunable dye laser (SPTL-1b, Candela Laser Corp.). Retrospective review of 17 of these patients, who have finished their treatment (average five sessions of therapy per patient, given at 3-4 monthly intervals), shows complete clearance of the telangiectasia in all cases. The mean follow-up time after the last session of treatment was 7 months. Temporary hyperpigmentation was seen in eight patients. Persistent pigmentary changes (one hyper- and one hypopigmentation) were noted in two patients. No evidence of scarring or change in skin texture was encountered. No progression or recurrence of telangiectasia was noted during the period of follow-up.