Efficacy and safety of lasers in treating syringomas: a review of the literature

Abstract

Syringomas are benign adnexal neoplasms that may induce psychological stress when they are large or disfiguring or present in delicate regions such as the periorbital area. Despite the availability of various lasers for syringomas, no consensus has been established on the optimal laser setting and side effects of these therapies. The current review aims at understanding the efficacy and safety of various laser therapies available for the treatment of syringomas. A literature search was carried out using PubMed and Ovid databases for articles published from Jan 2000 through Mar 2022. Screening the eligible articles yielded 27 studies, comprising clinical studies, case series, and case reports, which were included in this review. The CO2 laser is the most widely used ablative laser therapy but is usually associated with adverse events. Pinhole and multiple drilling methods using CO2 laser yielded excellent cosmetic results with minimal adverse effects. Fractional lasers reduced the downtime and complications compared to non-fractionated ones. Non-ablative fractional lasers could be advantageous in terms of easy operation, minimal side effects and moderate recovery period compared with ablative lasers. Large clinical trials are needed to generate strong evidence to guide clinicians in choosing the most appropriate laser therapy for syringoma treatment.