title: Rejuvenation of photoaged skin: 5 years results with intense pulsed light of the face, neck, and chest.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Photorejuvenation involves the use of lasers or light sources to reverse signs of photoaging. Multiple devices have been shown to be effective over the short-term.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the long-term clinical results on the face, neck and chest at 4 years using filtered flashlamp intense pulsed light (IPL) for treatment of photoaging changes of telangiectasias, dyspigmentation, and rough skin texture.
  
  
  METHODS
  A chart review of 80 randomly selected patients with skin types I-IV who were treated by IPL during 1996 and 1997 was performed. Photos and patient self-assessment were graded for features of textural smoothness, telangiectasia severity, and blotchy pigmentation into four categories of worse, no change, slightly better (less than 50% improvement) and much better (greater than 50% improvement).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 4 years following initial treatment, skin textural improvement was noted in 83% of the subjects. Telangiectasias were improved in 82% of subjects, while pigmentation remained improved in 79%. The median number of treatments was 3. The face responded slightly better than the chest or neck. Most common side-effects included temporary mild crusting (19%), erythema (15%) and purpura (6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Signs of photoaging including telangiectasias and mottled pigmentation of the face, neck, and chest, can be improved by IPL with a long-lasting result. Minimal or no downtime with minimal adverse effects can be achieved with the settings reported. Skin textural smoothing, although not easily quantified, is an additional benefit observed long-term.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. rwderm@earthlink.net
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Beasley
mesh_terms: D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008499:Medical Records; D009333:Neck; D010789:Phototherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013909:Thorax; D016896:Treatment Outcome