Use of a novel pulse dye laser for rapid single-pass purpura-free treatment of telangiectases.

BACKGROUND Purpura-free elimination of telangiectases with a single pass of a pulsed dye laser with a large spot has proved difficult. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this report was to define parameters that achieve single-pass purpura-free telangiectasia reduction. MATERIALS Thirty patients between the ages of 23 and 78 years were treated with a pulsed dye laser with a 10-mm spot and fluences ranging from 9 to 10 J/cm2. The macropulse width was 20 ms. Each macropulse was composed of eight pulselets. Treatments were carried out over facial areas with discrete telangiectases. RESULTS Smaller telangiectases (<600 microm) showed transient bluing followed by stenosis. Larger vessels (600-10,000 microm) showed bluing but inconsistent closure. A second pass typically resulted in closure. CONCLUSION A modified pulsed dye laser was capable of single-pass purpura-free reduction with a 10-mm spot size.