Related Experiment Videos
Facial hypertrophic scarring from pulsed dye laser
1Division of Dermatology, University of Missouri, Columbia 65212, USA.
Summary
A hypertrophic scar developed after pulsed dye laser treatment for a port-wine stain due to non-adherence to post-treatment care and potentially excessive initial laser fluences.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Laser Medicine
- Plastic Surgery
Background:
- The 585-nm, 450-msec pulsed dye laser (PDL) is a standard treatment for benign vascular lesions.
- PDL offers precise ablation of small vessels with minimal side effects like pigmentary changes or scarring.
Observation:
- A case report details a patient who developed a hypertrophic scar on the upper lip.
- This occurred after treatment of a port-wine stain with a pulsed dye laser.
Findings:
- Hypertrophic scar formation was observed after the fourth PDL treatment session.
- The scar developed on the patient's left cutaneous upper lip.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of patient adherence to post-treatment care instructions.
- Initial treatment fluences of 8.0-8.5 J/cm2 may be too high and could contribute to adverse scar formation.