Recurrence rates and long-term follow-up after laser resurfacing as a treatment for widespread actinic keratoses on the face and scalp.

BACKGROUND

Diffuse widespread actinic keratoses are difficult to treat, have a tendency toward higher recurrence rates, and therefore require ablative treatment. Laser resurfacing is one of the treatment modalities that can treat whole surface areas.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate patients who underwent laser resurfacing for widespread actinic keratoses with long-term follow-up for recurrence rates, time until new lesions occur, and the most common side effects.

METHODS

Retrospective case-control study from 25 patients who underwent laser resurfacing for widespread actinic keratoses on the scalp, forehead, or full face at our department. Follow-up varied from 7 to 70 months. Recurrence rates, adverse effects, and improvement were analyzed through chart analysis.

RESULTS

The mean average follow-up was 39 months. Forty-four percent of the patient shad no recurrence during the time period. Fifty-six percent of the patients developed new lesions after treatment but only a few. Of the recurrences, 20% occurred within 1 year and 36% occurred after 1 year. The most common short- and long-term side effects were infections (12%), hypopigmentation (48%), hyperpigmentation (8%), acne (12%), milia (12%), scar formation (8%), and atrophic and/or easily bruised skin (20%).

CONCLUSION

Laser resurfacing is an effective treatment modality for diffuse widespread actinic keratoses with long-term recurrence-free intervals.