Reducing Carbon Dioxide Laser-Induced Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation with Prophylactic Photobiomodulation: A Case Study.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of prophylactic photobiomodulation (PBM) in reducing postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) induced by carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing in a patient with periorbital syringomas.

Background

PIH is a common condition characterized by abnormal skin pigmentation after an inflammatory process occurring in up to 20-30% of patients undergoing CO2 laser resurfacing.

Methods

The patient was treated with PBM using a pulsed home-use device at 630 nm before and after CO2 laser treatment. The patient was asked to treat the right periorbital area before and after the CO2 laser treatment, which was continued once a day for 2 consecutive weeks.

Results

At 12 weeks, PIH was significantly reduced on the treated side compared with the contralateral untreated side (leading to persistent erythema at 6 months).

Conclusions

This is the first report of prophylactic treatment of CO2 laser-induced dyschromia using PBM.