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Vitiligo following intense pulsed light treatment
Jung U Shin1, Mi Ryung Roh, Ju Hee Lee
1Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
The Journal of Dermatology
|July 16, 2010
Summary
Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment for skin conditions may rarely trigger vitiligo, an acquired depigmenting disorder. This case highlights the importance of considering vitiligo development after IPL procedures.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Aesthetic Medicine
Background:
- Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder causing melanocyte loss and milky-white lesions.
- Potential triggers include emotional shock, sunburn, illness, and trauma.
- Intense pulsed light (IPL) devices emit broad-spectrum white light (515-1200 nm) for treating redness and dyspigmentation.
Observation:
- A 41-year-old woman developed hypopigmented macules after IPL treatment for lentigines.
- Biopsy and Wood's lamp examination confirmed vitiligo.
- The lesions appeared on the cheek and mandibular area.
Findings:
- This is the first reported case of vitiligo developing after IPL treatment.
- Treatment with a 308-nm excimer laser resulted in near-complete repigmentation within 3 months.
- A new hypopigmented patch reappeared 5 months post-treatment.
Implications:
- Dermatologists should be vigilant for subclinical vitiligo lesions prior to IPL treatment.
- IPL therapy may be an iatrogenic trigger for vitiligo development.
- Awareness of this potential adverse effect is crucial for patient safety in aesthetic dermatology.
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