Comparison of the flashlamp pulsed dye laser with the argon tunable dye laser with robotized handpiece for facial telangiectasia.

This prospective study compares the efficacy, side effects, and patient acceptance of the flashlamp pulsed dye laser (FPDL) with the argon tunable dye laser with robotized handpiece (ATDL/H) for facial telangiectasias. Seventeen adult patients with bilaterally symmetric facial telangiectasias were enrolled. The right cheek on each patient was treated in one session with the FPDL at a fluence of 6.0-6.75 J/cm2 and a spot size of 5 mm. The left cheek was treated at the same session with the ATDL/H at a power of 1 W, a fluence of 26-27 J/cm2, and a hexagonal treatment area of 13 mm (127 individual 1 mm spots grouped mechanically by the handpiece). Patients were evaluated subjectively and by the investigators at 2, 4, and 6 weeks for blistering, swelling, bruising, changes in pigment, scarring, overall efficacy, and patient preference. Average treatment times were 5.4 minutes for FPDL and 9.4 minutes for ATDL/H. Blistering, crusting, and discomfort were completely resolved on both sides by week 2 in all patients. Bruising occurred in all patients with FPDL but had resolved in 62.5% of patients at 2 weeks and 100% at 4 weeks. There was no bruising with ATDL/H. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation was much more prominent with FPDL but had resolved in 88% of cases by week 6. As rated by the investigators 100% of the FPDL treated areas showed excellent clearing of telangiectasias, compared with 47% of ATDL/H treated areas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)