Angioma serpiginosum successfully treated by a single session of intense pulsed light therapy

Angioma serpiginosum (AS) is a nevoid capillary malformation developed congenitally or thereafter. The AS stops growing after puberty and may remain persistent throughout life. The pulsed dye laser (PDL) and KTP are used to treat the AS usually after several sessions. We treated a patient with AS with only one session of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy. A 40-year-old lady with Fitzpatrick skin type 3 and AS on the left maxillary and infraorbital area was scheduled to be treated with IPL. The lesion was treated by a single pass of IPL therapy with 8 joules/ cm2, in the telangiectatic mode. No anesthesia more than cooling was used, and a mild erythema was developed immediately after IPL therapy, which subsided soon after the procedure. Two months later, telangiectatic lagoons were completely removed, and only very faint erythema remained. IPL is an effective and more tolerable device for the treatment of AS, with no purpura and discoloration, as frequently observed following PDL therapy.