Flash-lamp pulsed-dye laser treatment of keloids: results of an observational study.

OBJECTIVE Flash lamp pulsed dye laser (FPDL) was used in a selected group of patients with hypertrophic scars and keloids. Objective of the study was to assess the efficacy on a large number of cases. BACKGROUND DATA FPDL is a nonablative technology, typically used in vascular malformation therapy because of its specificity for hemoglobin. METHODS A total of 59 patients (33 males and 26 females, mean age 37.5 years) affected by hypertrophic postsurgical scars and keloids, underwent from four to six treatment sessions with a flash lamp pumped pulsed dye laser. Clinical follow-up was performed 6 months after the last treatment. Results were judged by blind observers. RESULTS A total of 29 patients out of 59 (49.1%) achieved excellent clearance, 15 patients (25.4%) achieved good to moderate clearance, and 12 patients (20.4%) obtained slight improvement. Only three subjects (5%) had little or no removal of their lesion. Treatment was well tolerated with minor and transient side effects. CONCLUSIONS FPDL is known as a safe and effective treatment for different dermatological lesions in which skin microvessels play a key role in pathogenesis or development. This laser was effective when applied to hypertrophic scars and keloids. Further studies in a larger set of patients, however, are required to assess a standardized and reproducible method for treating these lesions.