Abstract | BACKGROUND: The risk of long-term alopecia after pulsed-dye laser (PDL) therapy is unknown. To identify how many practitioners treat hair-bearing sites with PDL and how commonly long-term alopecia occurs, the authors queried pediatric dermatologists about their experiences using this modality. METHODS: A survey was designed to evaluate the frequency of and factors contributing to long-term alopecia after PDL treatment of port-wine stains (PWS). "Long-term" was defined as no sign of hair regrowth after several years of nontreatment. The survey was administered to attendees at the 2014 Society for Pediatric Dermatology biannual meeting. RESULTS: Sixty-four pediatric dermatologists completed the survey, 50 of whom had experience using PDL. Of these physicians, 86% have used PDL to treat PWS of the eyebrow and 80% have treated PWS of the scalp. Over one-quarter of respondents (25.5%) using PDL on hair-bearing areas had at least 1 of their patients develop long-term alopecia after PDL treatment. The incidence of long-term alopecia after PDL treatment in the surveyed population was 1.5% to 2.6%. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of long-term alopecia at hair-bearing sites after treatment with PDL may be greater than previously thought. Because the majority of physicians using PDL treat hair-bearing areas, prospective studies are needed to more accurately determine the risk of long-term alopecia and the factors that contribute to it.
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Authors | Stephanie Feldstein, Christine R Totri, Sheila F Friedlander |
Journal | Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.]
(Dermatol Surg)
Vol. 41
Issue 3
Pg. 348-51
(Mar 2015)
ISSN: 1524-4725 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 25742556
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Topics |
- Alopecia
(epidemiology)
- Child
- Dermatology
(statistics & numerical data)
- Eyebrows
- Health Care Surveys
- Humans
- Incidence
- Lasers, Dye
(adverse effects)
- Low-Level Light Therapy
(adverse effects)
- Port-Wine Stain
(therapy)
- Risk Factors
- Scalp
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