Facial teleangectasias: our experience in treatment with IPL.
OBJECTIVE
Facial teleangectasias can be a relevant cosmetic problem, which the patient usually hides with a thick layer of makeup. This study will describe the response on these vascular lesions using the intense pulsed light (IPL) source.


METHODS
Five hundred eighteen consecutive patients were treated with Photoderm VL (Lumenis Ltd.). The average age of patients of various skin types (Fitzpatrick I to IV) was 48.5 years. They were subjected to a mean of 1.69 treatments (range 1-9) followed up 48 hours, 72 hours, 1 week, 3 weeks, and 1 month after each treatment. All patients were followed up after 2 months from the last treatment and the percentage of clearance was assessed by comparing pre- and post-treatment photographs. The patients also answered a questionnaire in which they expressed personal satisfaction. The physicians evaluation was also recorded on the same form.


RESULTS
Patients (87.64%) presented a clearance of 75%-100%. The results appear not correlated with lesions size, age, skin type but with operator experience. Minimal side adverse effects occurred in 20% of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The IPL source, Photoderm VL, can be considered an alternative or a supplement to the existing laser devices for facial teleangectasias treatment.
Clementoni
Matteo Tretti
MT
Surgery and Laser Section, European Dermatologic Institute, 20100 Milan, Italy. mtretti@tin.it
Gilardino
Patrizia
P
Muti
Gabriele F
GF
Signorini
Massimo
M
Pistorale
Antonio
A
Morselli
Paolo G
PG
Cavina
Carlo
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000628:therapy*