title: A split-face comparison study of pulsed 532-nm KTP laser and 595-nm pulsed dye laser in the treatment of facial telangiectasias and diffuse telangiectatic facial erythema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pulsed 595 nm and 532 nm lasers can effectively diminish or eliminate facial telangiectasia. We performed a split-face, single-blind, controlled, comparison study in an effort to determine their individual and comparative efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients were treated using a 595-nm PDL on one side of the face and a pulsed 532-nm potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser on the other. Each subject was evaluated at 3 weeks after three treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both devices improved telangiectasia. The 532-nm device, however, was at least as effective or more effective than the 595-nm laser in all subjects. On average, the KTP laser achieved 62% clearing after the first treatment and 85% clearing 3 weeks after the third treatment, compared to 49% and 75% for the PDL, respectively. Seventy-nine percent of KTP laser-treated patients continued to have swelling for greater than 1 day versus 71% of PDL-treated patients. Of those patients who noted persistent erythema for at least 1 day after treatment, 58% noted more erythema on the KTP laser-treated side compared to 8% on the PDL-treated side.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the 595-nm and the 532-nm pulsed lasers are highly effective in the treatment of facial telangiectasia and redness. The 532-nm KTP laser appears to be more effective but causes more swelling and erythema.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Division of Laser Surgery, Naval Medical Center San Diego, CA 92134, USA. nsuebelhoer@nmcsd.med.navy.mil
authors: Nathan S
authors: NS
authors: Uebelhoer
authors: Melissa A
authors: MA
authors: Bogle
authors: Brigitte
authors: B
authors: Stewart
authors: Kenneth A
authors: KA
authors: Arndt
authors: Jeffrey S
authors: JS
authors: Dover
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004890:Erythema / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000532:radiotherapy*