Efficacy Of Low Fluence 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG Laser In The Treatment Of 532-nm Laser Induced Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation

Objective:In recent years,1064nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with low flucence have been applied in the treatment of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation(PIH).Our aim is to explore the efficacy and safety of 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with low fluence in the tretment of 532-nm laser induced postinflammatory hyperpigmentationMethods:We totally enrolled 400 cases of 532nm Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser induced postinflammatory hyperpigmentation from two aesthetic dermatology clinics during one year in north Taiwan. Among those patients,two hundred postinflammatory hyperpigmentation cases received the low flucence 1064nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser to treat in study group.The other two hundred postinflammatory hyper- pigmentation cases received triple combination cream in control group.The efficacy and patients’s satisfaction were evaluated at the end of first month,second month and third month after treatment.Results:In the study group,4% of patients were excellent response,24% improved and 72% ineffective at the end of first month after treatment.9% of patients were recovered,32% excellent,30% improved and 29% ineffective by second month.18% of patients were recovered,58% excellent,24% improved by third month.In the control group,2% of patients were excellent,19% improved and 79% ineffective by first month.3% of patients were recovered,17% excellent,23% improved and 57% ineffective by second month.6% of patients were recovered,29% excellent and 50% improved and 15% ineffective by third month.The cure rate and effective rate were 18% and 76% respectively in the study group,6% and 35% in the control group by third month. The survey of satisfaction on patients showed as follows.In the study group,74% of patients are unsatisfied,22.5% satisfied and 3.5% very satisfied by first month.46% of patients are unsatisfied,44% satisfied and 10% very satisfied by second month.6% of patients are unsatisfied,65.5% satisfied and 28.5% very satisfied by third month.In the control group,8.5% of patients are very unsatisfied,72.5% unsatisfied,19% satisfied by first month.4.5% of patients are very unsatisfied,59% unsatisfied, 31.5% satisfied and 5% very satisfied by second month.10% of patients are very unsatisfied,48 unsatisfied,34% satisfied and 8% very satisfied by third month. Conclusions:Low fluence 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is effective in treatment of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation at the end of first,second and third month. By third month,76% of patients are good results in the study group and 35% in the control group.Laser treatment is more effective than triple combination cream for PIH.Triple combination cream or laser treatment is effective for PIH treatment. Clinically,we can choose laser treatment at first,then consider triple combination cream. Toachieve satisfactory results,both of laser treatment and triple combination cream should be used for more than three months.