Prospective Study of Intense Pulsed Light With Postoperative Radiotherapy for Keloids in Young and Middle-Aged Men

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Medical Aesthetics
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Chest scars in young and middle-aged men can cause significant aesthetic and sensory concerns.
• Conventional treatments like radiotherapy alone may not fully address scar appearance and patient discomfort.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) combined with postoperative radiotherapy for treating chest scars.
• To compare the combined treatment's effectiveness against radiotherapy alone in improving scar characteristics and patient-reported symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A prospective randomized controlled trial involving 52 male patients was conducted.
• Patients were divided into an observation group (radiotherapy + IPL) and a control group (radiotherapy only).
• Scar assessment utilized the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) over 24 months.

Main Results:

• The observation group showed significantly improved VSS scores for color, vascularity, softness, and overall score compared to the control group (p < 0.05).
• No significant difference in scar thickness was observed between groups (p > 0.05).
• Patients receiving combined therapy reported significantly lower levels of pain and itching.

Conclusions:

• The combination of postoperative radiotherapy and IPL is a more effective treatment for chest scars in men than radiotherapy alone.
• This combined approach significantly alleviates associated pain and itching, enhancing patient quality of life.