The effects of topical vitamin K on bruising after laser treatment.
BACKGROUND
Pulsed dye laser treatment and other cosmetic procedures result in significant bruising. Claims have been made regarding the efficacy of topical vitamin K in both preventing and speeding the clearing of bruising; however, well-controlled studies are lacking.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of topical vitamin K versus placebo in the prevention and clearing of laser-induced purpura.


METHODS
A total of 22 patients were enrolled in this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. The patients were divided into pretreatment and posttreatment groups; the 11 patients in the former group applied vitamin K cream to half of their face and vehicle alone to the other half of their face twice daily for 2 weeks before laser treatment. The latter group followed the same procedure for 2 weeks after laser treatment. On day 0, all subjects underwent laser treatment for facial telangiectases using a 585-nm pulsed dye laser. Bruising was rated by the both the patient and physician by means of a visual analogue scale on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, and 17.


RESULTS
The side of the face treated with topical vitamin K before laser therapy showed no significant difference in bruising as compared to placebo. However, the side of the face treated with vitamin K cream after laser treatment had significantly lower scores of bruising severity when compared with the side treated with placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Although pretreatment with vitamin K did not prevent bruising after laser treatment, use of vitamin K cream after laser treatment did reduce the severity of bruising, particularly in the initial days of application.
Shah
Neha S
NS
Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33125, USA.
Lazarus
Melissa C
MC
Bugdodel
Reimo
R
Hsia
Sung L
SL
He
Jinlin
J
Duncan
Robert
R
Baumann
Leslie
L
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003288:Contusions / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005145:Face / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D014812:Vitamin K