Successful Treatment of Facial Telangiectasias Using a Micropulse 1,064-nm Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser

David J. Goldberg & Amy E. Rose, Dermatology, New York, NY

Objectives

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a microsecond 1,064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser for the treatment of facial telangiectasias.

Methods

Subjects ages 35–70 with Fitzpatrick skin types I to III and facial telangiectasias underwent two treatments with a micropulse (0.65 ms) 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser. Treatments were spaced 30 days apart, with a final evaluation 60 days after the second treatment. Evaluation included digital photography and an assessment of the degree of improvement on a scale from 1 to 5 by the subject and a nontreating investigator.

Results

Twenty subjects (18 women, two men) with Fitzpatrick skin type II and III completed the study. The nontreating investigator rated the objective clinical response as total clearance (100% clear) in 10% (n = 2) of subjects, significant clearance (over 50% clear) in 75% (n = 15), and some clearance (0–49% clear) in 15% (n = 3). None of the subjects was rated as having no clearance or worsening. In terms of subjective clearance reported by subjects, 80% (n = 16) reported significant clearance, with the remainder reporting some clearance. No adverse events were reported.

Conclusion

The micropulse 1,064-nm Nd:YAG successfully treated facial telangiectasias with a high degree of patient satisfaction, minimal discomfort, and no adverse events.

Dermatol Surg 2013;39:1062–1066 DOI: 10.1111/dsu.12185