Combination 1550 nm non-ablative fractional resurfacing and laser hair removal for treatment of Becker's nevi in skin types III-VI.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Becker's nevus is a cosmetically bothersome benign hamartoma typically associated with basal layer hyperpigmentation and hypertrichosis. We herein present the largest case series characterizing treatment parameters and clinical outcomes of combined 1550 nm non-ablative fractional resurfacing and laser hair removal (long-pulsed neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet or alexandrite) in the treatment of Becker's nevus. This is also the largest case series of laser treatment of Becker's nevus in Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI.

METHODS:

We performed a retrospective review of patients treated between 2016 and 2021. Clinical photographs were graded by three independent physicians using a 5-point visual analog scale.

RESULTS:

Twelve patients (mean age: 24.8 years, Fitzpatrick skin types III-VI) were treated for Becker's nevus on the face (4) or the trunk and/or extremities (8). Four patients were Fitzpatrick skin types V or VI. On average, patients received 5.3 treatments in 1-4-month intervals. Ten of the 12 patients had concomitant laser hair removal preceding same-day non-ablative fractional resurfacing (n = 7 with long-pulsed 1064 nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet and n = 3 with long-pulsed 755 nm alexandrite). The number of treatments with each modality was determined by patient satisfaction with improvement in hyperpigmentation and hypertrichosis. At follow-up, which ranged from 6 to 40 weeks (mean 10.5 weeks), patients were given a mean improvement score of 51%-75%. No long-term adverse events were encountered in either group. Limitations include a small sample size and a lack of long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSION:

Combination 1550 nm non-ablative fractional resurfacing and laser hair removal is safe and efficacious in the cosmetic reduction of hyperpigmentation and hypertrichosis associated with Becker's nevus, including those with Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI.

• Authors: Shelby L Kubicki, Emily L Guo, Pooja Sodha, Heather Richmond, Paul M Friedman
• Journal: Lasers in surgery and medicine (Lasers Surg Med) Vol. 55 Issue 1 Pg. 99-104 (01 2023) ISSN: 1096-9101 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 36129813 (Publication Type: Case Reports)
• Copyright: © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Chemical References

• alexandrite
• yttrium-aluminum-garnet
• Aluminum
• Neodymium
• Yttrium

Topics

• Humans
• Young Adult
• Adult
• Skin Neoplasms (radiotherapy, surgery)
• Aluminum
• Hair Removal
• Hypertrichosis (complications)
• Neodymium
• Hyperpigmentation (etiology, surgery)
• Yttrium
• Nevus (surgery, complications)
• Lasers
• Treatment Outcome
• Lasers, Solid-State (therapeutic use)