Concurrent use of a handheld forced cold air device minimizes patient discomfort during fractional photothermolysis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the analgesic effect of a handheld forced cold air device during fractional photothermolysis.


METHODS
Twenty patients who were being treated with full-face fractional photothermolysis were asked to rate their pain level with and without the handheld air-cooling device. Pain was rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst.


RESULTS
Nineteen of 20 patients noted decreased pain with the addition of handheld cooling. The mean level of pain without air-cooling was 6.95 +/- 2.0. The mean level of discomfort with air cooling was 4.0 +/- 1.8. The mean decrease in pain with the addition of air-cooling was 2.9 +/- 1.8.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of a handheld forced cold air device to cool the skin before and after fractional photothermolysis treatment is an effective adjunctive analgesic modality.
Fisher
Galen H
GH
Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York, NY 10016, USA.
Kim
Karen H
KH
Bernstein
Leonard J
LJ
Geronemus
Roy G
RG
D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000628:therapy; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008548:Melanosis / Q000628:therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012060:Rejuvenation; D015595:Skin Aging; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000628:therapy*