The Effect of 3 Sessions of Q Switched Neodymium: Yttrium?Aluminum?Garnet Laser in the Treatment of Freckles

Abstract

Background: Freckles are common superficial pigmented lesions which can become cosmetic problems. Advances in laser technology have resulted in the ability to treat pigmented lesions with greater safety and efficacy. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 1,064 nm Q-switched neodymium: yttrium–aluminum– garnet (Nd- YAG) laser in the treatment of freckles. Methods: Fifty patients with freckles referring to the laser centers of Al-Azhar University hospital (Asyut) were enrolled in this open-label, monocentric study. All participants received 3 sessions of 1,064-nm Q switched Nd:YAG laser at 4-weeks intervals. The pigmentation area and severity index (PSI score) was calculated based on 3 parameters: Area, darkness, and density of the pigmented lesions. Results: Fifty patients (4 males and 46 females) completed the study protocol. The age of the patients ranged from 6-43 years, the duration of freckles showed a wide range, (1 month-20 years) with a mean duration of 5.13 ± 4.72 years. There was a statistical significant improvement in mean PSI after treatment of freckles with 1064 Q-Switched Nd-YAG. Excellent improvement (≥75%) were occurred in 17 cases (34%), very good improvement (50-74%) in 14cases (28%), good improvement (≥25-49%) in 16 cases (32%) and poor improvement (<25% lightening) in 3 cases (6%). The correlation between improvement and clinical parameters showed positive significant correlation with duration of disease and number of sessions. The reported side effects among this study were post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in 2 cases (4%), hypopigmentation in 3 cases (6%) and erythema in 6 cases (12%). Conclusions: 1064 Q-switched Nd- YAG laser is effective modality in the treatment of freckles especially in patients with long duration.