Beneficial Effects of Treatment With Low‐Fluence 755‐nm Q‐Switched Alexandrite Laser for Nevus of Ota
Xiaojin Wu, Xue Wang, Ying Shang, Hui Xu, Zhen Zhang
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nevus of Ota is a benign dermal and mucosal melanocytic nevus that can be cured by Q-switched lasers. However, the incidence rate of post-treatment hyperpigmentation in Asian patients remains high. Low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (QSNY) has been proved effective in the early treatment of nevus of Ota. Q-switched alexandrite laser (QSAL) was found to achieve a higher success rate and lower complication rate than QSNY. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-fluence 755 nm QSAL in the treatment of nevus of Ota. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ). Treatments were given every 6 months three times. Standard photos of the lesions were taken to evaluate the efficacy. All adverse events were noted. RESULTS: The low-fluence QSAL group achieved a significantly higher mean efficacy score than the high-fluence QSAL group after the first treatment (3.62 ± 0.85 vs. 2.9 ± 0.79, P < 0.001) and at the final follow-up visit (4.52 ± 0.63 vs. 4.03 ± 0.96, P < 0.05). Post-inflammation hyperpigmentation rate was significantly lower in the low-fluence QSAL group than in the high-fluence QSAL group (4.8% vs. 25.6%, P < 0.001). No patient reported hyperkeratosis, scarring, bleeding, skin textural change, or recurrence at the final visit in either group. CONCLUSION: The low-fluence QSAL is more effective and safer than the traditional high-fluence QSAL because of its better clinical outcome and lower complication rate in the treatment of nevus of Ota. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.