Treatment of nail psoriasis with pulsed dye laser versus combined pulsed dye and Nd:YAG lasers-An intrapatient left-to-right study.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

There are limited treatment options for nail psoriasis. It is important to find new therapies and improve existing ones. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of pulsed dye laser (PDL) versus combined PDL and Nd:YAG lasers in patients with nail psoriasis.

METHODS

Fourteen patients (with a total of 126 nails affected by nail psoriasis) were treated with PDL (6 J/cm2, 7 mm, 0.45 milliseconds) on both hands and additionally with Nd:YAG (10 J/cm2 , 6 mm, 15 milliseconds) on the right hand. Three treatment sessions were applied at 4-week intervals and patients were followed up for 6 months after the last session. Disease severity was assessed using the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index, both 8- and 32-point variant. Additionally, Dermatology Life Quality Index was assessed before and after treatment.

RESULTS

Overall, there was a statistical difference in 8- and 32-point NAPSI score before and after treatment for both hands. However, there was no statistical difference between the score for the right and left hands based on both scale variants. Some aspects of patients' lives showed improvement due to the treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Both PDL in monotherapy and combined Nd:Yag+PDL lasers are safe and effective in treatment of nail psoriasis, although combined therapy shows no advantage over the use of a single laser.