The distinctive technical conditions involved combine to make IPL technology an alternative and auxiliary treatment option to existing laser systems and conventional therapies.

Objective: The flashlamp pulsed dye laser (FLPDL) is currently the treatment of choice for port-wine stains (PWS). We recently investigated whether a non-coherent intense pulsed light source (IPLS) would be effective in the therapy of PWS. Design and Patients:In order to evaluate the efficacy in treatment of PWS (especially adult-type dark and hypertrophic), a retrospective study of 37 patients (randomly selected) with a total of 40 PWS treated with IPLS was initiated. Clinical PWS characteristics recorded were color and location of the PWS. Data collected included treatment parameters (filters, pulse duration, fluence and pulse sequencing), % clearance, and side effects (purpura, blisters, crusting, altered pigmentation and scarring).Results: Good and complete (70-100 %) clearance was achieved in 28 of 40 PWS treated with IPLS. Average number of treatment sessions in PWS reaching 100 % clearance included 4.0 for pink PWS and 1.5 sessions for red PWS. Average number of sessions in purple PWS reaching good clearance (70-99%) was 4.2 sessions. Parameters used most frequently were 515 and 550 nm cut-off-filters, pulse duration of 2.5-5.0 ms and fluences of 24 to 60 J/cm 2 . Side effects included purpura in 76%, superficial blisters in 8% and crusting in 20%. Transient pigmentation changes were seen in 10.8% of patients (hypopigmentations in 8.1%, hyperpigmentation in 2.7%). No scarring was observed. Conclusion:IPLS presents an effective and safe method for treating PWS, especially dark and facial PWS.

The PhotoDerm VL is an innovative, highly effective, and comparably safe therapeutic alternative to the laser in the treatment of ETE. The rate of cosmetically relevant side effects is considerably smaller, the patient compliance is excellent, and the method can be applied easily in an outpatient setting.

The use of lasers and IPL technology in dermatology and aesthetic medicine requires practitioners not only to have high levels of training and experience, but also to exercise professional judgment. In spite of all of the precautions taken, the risk of complications and side effects can be reduced but not completely eliminated.