Treatment of venous lake with multiwavelength 595 and 1064 nm lasers in Asian Fitzpatrick skin type IV patients

Abstract

Background: Multiwavelength lasers are reportedly useful for treating venous lake (VL) in Caucasian patients. However, the same parameters may not be safe for Asian patients with Fitzpatrick skin type (FST) IV.

Purpose: Report experience with using multiwavelength laser for VL treatment in Asian patients with FST IV.

Methods: Seventeen episodes of VL in 15 Chinese patients with FST IV were treated. 595-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) followed by 1064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser was administered. The treatment was performed with 7-mm spot size at 7-11.5 J/cm² , 2-10 ms with PDL, followed with Nd:YAG at 35-40 J/cm² , 15-40 ms. The laser treatment was performed with a single pass without overlap.

Results: Complete resolution was observed in 14 lesions after 1-2 treatment sessions, with 10 ms duration of PDL. The remaining three patients achieved 80%-90% resolution after 1-3 treatment sessions, with 2 ms duration of PDL. Only one case exhibited recurrence after 1 year.

Conclusion: Multiwavelength laser treatment for VL is highly effective and safe in Asians, although a much lower fluence of Nd:YAG is used, as compared to that used in Caucasians in the literature. Moreover, an appropriate PDL pulse duration (10 ms) ensures better outcomes.

Keywords: Fitzpatrick skin type IV; multiwavelength lasers; venous lake.