https://doi.org/10.4081/ltj.2022.303

The effectiveness of flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser in conjunction with topical imiquimod treatment for rosacea

Vol. 29 No. 2 (2022)
Published: 27 December 2022
Laser Therapy, pulsed dye lasers, imiquimod, rosacea, flashlamp-pumped Pulsed-Dye Laser (PDL)
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Authors

Chen-Jen Chang
chengjen@h.tmu.edu.tw
Department of Plastic Surgery; Department of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Optomechatronics; TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan;  Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taipei, , Taiwan.
Yen-Chang Hsiao
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ana Elena Aviña
Department of Plastic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Yu-Fan Chiang
Medical School, University of Queensland, Australia.

Rosacea is a chronic dermatosis with no cure. Our goal was to evaluate if the combination of flashlamp-pumped Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) treatment with topical imiquimod could improve therapeutic outcomes. Fourty patients diagnosed with rosacea and aged between 16 and 53 years were assigned for three different types of treatment: i) PDL-only, ii) imiquimod-only, and iii) PDL + imiquimod. The PDL test sites received a single treatment with the VBeam laser (λ = 595 nm; spot size = 7 mm; tp = 1500 msec) at a dosage of 10 J/cm2 with cryogen spurt duration (30 msec) and the delay time (20 msec). For the test sites of PDL + imiquimod and imiquimod-only, the patients applied imiquimod topically to the test sites once a day for 1 month. Patients were followed-up at 1, 3, and 6 months. The primary efficacy was measured with a DermoSpectrometer. Patients were also monitored for adverse effects. Pair-wise analysis showed statistically significant differences between the blanching responses for the PDL + imiquimod and PDL-only and imiquimod-only treatments (p<0.005). Transient hyperpigmentation was noted in 5% (n=2) and 20% (n=8) of patients in the PDL + imiquimod and PDL-only treatment, respectively. Hyperpigmentation resolved spontaneously within 6 months. Permanent hypopigmentation or scarring was not observed. Superior blanching responses were obtained when using PDL + imiquimod than PDL-only or imiquimod-only treatment for rosacea. A larger number of patients are required to support the results of this study.

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How to Cite

Chang, C.-J., Hsiao, Y.-C., Aviña, A. E., & Chiang, Y.-F. (2022). The effectiveness of flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser in conjunction with topical imiquimod treatment for rosacea. Laser Therapy, 29(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/ltj.2022.303
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