Successful treatment of atrophic scars from cutaneous leishmaniasis using a fractional laser.

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous leishmaniasis can lead to unsightly atrophic scars, which have limited treatment options. There is a scarcity of literature on its treatment modalities. Fractional lasers have been successfully used in treating a variety of skin conditions with minimal downtime and side effects.

METHODS

We report a successful treatment of a 25-year-old female patient with an atrophic scar from cutaneous leishmaniasis on the nose with a fractional laser (Fraxel Re:store SR 1500). Ten treatment sessions were performed at a pulse energy of 45 to 70 mJ. The treatment response was assessed by comparing pre- and posttreatment clinical photographs.

RESULTS

After three sessions, the patient observed 40% improvement. More than 90% improvement was noticed after the tenth session. No significant adverse effects were noted. The improvement was persistent at the 3-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The excellent improvement in this patient should encourage further studies to achieve more efficacy and optimize the treatment parameters.