title: Treatment of 153 Japanese patients with Q-switched alexandrite laser.
abstract: We have recently used Q-switched alexandrite laser for the treatment of various kinds of pigmented skin lesions. We retrospectively compared therapeutic outcomes of 153 Japanese patients who consulted our department. This approach was not very efficient for nevus spilus/café-au-lait spots, which seemed laser-resistant, especially when the pigmentation had appeared after 1 year of age, was treated after 5 years of age, was located on the face, was oval with a smooth border, and the patient was male. This approach was equally effective for senile lentigo, nevus of Ota, and Mongolian spots, but less effective for acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules. Some patients with sacral Mongolian spots or those with light-colored, senile lentigo developed severe post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after treatment. As a whole, good therapeutic outcome was achieved after multiple treatment sessions. However, the use of other lasers or other treatment modalities should be considered to treat nevus spilus/café-au-lait spots.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. kagamis-tky@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kagami
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asahina
authors.forename: Rei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mimura
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamaki
mesh_terms: D001608:Beryllium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019080:Cafe-au-Lait Spots / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D049328:Mongolian Spot / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009507:Nevus of Ota / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: C112654:alexandrite; D001608:Beryllium