Treatment of linear and spider telangiectasia with an intense pulsed light source

Abstract

The flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser (585 and 577 nm) has proved to be an effective and safe treatment option in the therapy of linear and spider facial telangiectasia. Nevertheless, the postoperative purpura, which most patients see as cosmetically disfiguring, has always been a matter of concern. To test the effectiveness and safety of an intense pulsed light source (IPLS), which emits non-coherent light adjustable within the 515-1200 nm range, in the treatment of linear and spider facial telangiectasia. One hundred and forty patients with linear and stellate facial telangiectasia were treated with an IPLS. In 94 (67.1%) the results were considered excellent (clearance of 80-100%), 43 (30.7%) showed good results (clearance of 40-80%) and in 3 patients (2.1%) the results were poor (clearance < 40%). Post-treatment side effects were minimal and well tolerated. There were no instances of scarring or other permanent side effects. Owing to the large spot size, a large area could be treated within one session. No anaesthesia was required. IPLS is a highly effective and comparably safe therapeutic alternative to the pulsed dye laser in the treatment of facial telangiectasia. The rate of cosmetically relevant side effects is considerably smaller, patient compliance is excellent and the method can easily be applied in an outpatient setting.