Evaluation of subject response following treatment for pigmentation or wrinkles using a diode laser

Abstract

Background: Pulsed diode array laser systems are utilized extensively for various aesthetic indications such as removal of unwanted hair, treatment of vascular and pigmented lesions, and wrinkle reduction.Objective: The purpose of this study was to report and assess the experience of using a diode laser system delivering pulsed infrared laser light at the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum at wavelengths of 805 and 1060 nm. Methods:The study was a retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes in adult subjects treated at the clinic between January 2017 and April 2018 for wrinkles and pigmentation with a noninvasive aesthetic diode laser system. Subjects were treated at nominal wavelengths of 805 nm for pigmentation and 1060 nm for wrinkles reduction. Improvement in pigmentation and wrinkles, adverse events, and patient tolerability to treatment and satisfaction were evaluated. Results:Of 44 subjects with Fitzpatrick skin types II-IV, eight were treated for pigmentation and 36 for wrinkles. For both treatments, subjects reported tolerable pain levels. All immediate responses resolved within 48 hours post-treatment.Evaluation of treatment outcomes by two blinded evaluators demonstrated significant pigmentation clearance mean of 2.50 ± 0.15, (P < .05) in subjects treated for pigmentation, as well as significant improvement mean of 0.46 ± 0.12 (P = .005) in wrinkles in 13 subjects (41%) whose "before" and "after treatment" photographs were correctly identified by both blinded evaluators. Subjects were satisfied with the treatments. Conclusions:Use of the Diode laser effectively resulted in improvement in pigmentation and wrinkles, while maintaining a high safety profile with limited downtime. K E Y W O R D S diode laser, pigmentation, wrinkles 1 | INTRODUC TI ON Pulsed diode array laser systems deliver noninvasive laser energy in a pulse mode in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths, among them 805 and 1060 nm nominal wavelengths. These wavelengths penetrate the human skin to a depth of several milliliters and are absorbed by three chromophores that are abundant in the skin, namely, water, melanin, and hemoglobin. 1 These properties of diode