title: Erbium: YAG laser ablation versus 70% trichloroacetıc acid application in the treatment of xanthelasma palpebrarum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP) is characterized by soft, yellow plaques on the upper or lower eyelids that create aesthetic problems for patients. There are several methods in the treatment of XP, such as surgical excision, blepharoplasty, cryotherapy, electrocauterization, chemical cauterization using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or bichloroacetic acid and laser ablation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficiency and complications of 70% TCA application versus erbium: YAG laser ablation in different XP lesions on the same patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 21 patients were taken into the study-1 male and 20 females, from ages 22 to 70 years. Erbium: YAG laser ablation and 70% TCA application were performed in different XP lesions of the same patient. All patients were photographed before initiating treatment and after 4 weeks using the same digital camera. Evaluation was performed 4 weeks after the first treatment session by comparing pre-treatment and post-treatment photographs by two independent dermatologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference of the improvement scores between the erbium laser and TCA was found (p = 0.248). No significant difference between the complication scores using erbium laser and TCA was found (p = 0.739).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both 70% TCA application and erbium: YAG laser ablation methods have similar effectiveness and complication rates.
authors: Dermatology Department, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors: Sule
authors: S
authors: Güngör
authors: Dilek
authors: D
authors: Canat
authors: Gonca
authors: G
authors: Gökdemir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002424:Caustics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014973:Xanthomatosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid