Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
Using a 1064-nm Picosecond Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser for Periorbital Hyperpigmentation
Published on: May 23, 2025
Refractory Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation Treated Fractional CO2 Laser
Yasemin Oram1, A Deniz Akkaya1
1Department of Dermatology, V.K. Foundation American Hospital of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
Objective:
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is a reactive hypermelanosis of the skin that occurs as a consequence of an inflammatory process, such as acne, eczema, drug reactions, burns, chemical peelings, and laser applications. Although topical agents remain to be the first-line treatment of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, treatment of recalcitrant cases is challenging. The Q-switched ruby laser, the low-dose Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser, and the fractional 1550nm erbium-doped fiber laser have been reported to improve postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Design/Setting/Participants:
The authors present a case of refractory postinflammatory hyperpigmentation successfully treated with two sessions of fractional CO2 laser in a 24-year-old woman with Fitzpatrick skin type III.
Results:
After two treatment sessions with a one-month interval, the lesion totally cleared without any complications.
Conclusion:
Although many laser systems, including fractional CO2 lasers, can cause postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, they also can be very efficacious tools by using conservative laser settings and by providing appropriate post-treatment care in recalcitrant postinflammatory hyperpigmentation treatment.
