Background and Objectives
Transdermally delivered gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) irradiated with near‐infrared laser energy can create a photothermal effect within the sebaceous glands (SGs). Photothermal therapy (PTT) can be used clinically to reverse photoaging in SG‐rich areas of the skin. Improvements in wrinkles and enlarged pores in Asian skin were assessed following AuNP‐mediated PTT with a long‐pulsed 755‐nm alexandrite laser.
Study Design/Materials and Methods
A single‐arm, prospective trial was designed. Twenty Korean patients underwent three gold PTT interventions performed 4 weeks apart at laser hair‐removal settings without cooling. At Week 20, changes in the wrinkle index (WI) and pore index (PI), size, and count were calculated using three‐dimensional camera analyses. Overall improvements in wrinkles and pores (0–4 scale) were assessed by blinded investigators using standardized photographic comparisons. The subjects scored their satisfaction (0–10 scale) and treatment discomfort (0–10 scale). Safety data were also collected.
Results
There were significant reductions in the WI (8.3%, p < 0.01), pore size (23.1%, p = 0.035), and PI (19.9%, p = 0.034) in the periorbital areas at week 20 compared with baseline. The mean reductions in the size (22.5%, p = 0.027), count (16.5%, p = 0.048), and index (22.4%, p = 0.023) of the cheek pores were also significant. Investigators reported average scores of 3.2 ± 0.6 for improved wrinkle appearance, and 3.1 ± 0.7 for improvement in visible pores. Participants were moderately satisfied with the overall results (7.6 ± 1.8). Subjects felt moderate discomfort during treatment (4.7 ± 2.6). No serious or persistent adverse events occurred.
Conclusions
AuNP‐mediated PTT showed noticeable efficacy and tolerability in treating wrinkles and pores in Asian skin over a 12 week‐follow‐up. Further studies with a longer follow‐up are needed to confirm the reduction in SG activity at the parameters used.
The most common benign vascular tumor, pyogenic granuloma (PG), does not resolve spontaneously. While the treatment parameters used for pulsed dye lasers (PDLs) are well-known, no objective therapeutic endpoint associated with PDL therapy in PG has been established. In the current study, three cases of PG were treated with a PDL using a 7-mm spot size, 2-6 ms pulse duration, and radiant exposure of 7-9 J/cm 2 with level 1 air cooling. Dermoscopic examination immediately after PDL treatment revealed that the therapeutic endpoints of PDL were a newly appearing dusky violaceous area, an expanding whitish homogeneous area, and a focal crusted rupture. The successful treatment of the lesions indicates the potential application of dermoscopy to determine therapeutic endpoints when treating PG with PDL.
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