title: The efficacy of pulsed dye laser treatment for inflammatory skin diseases: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The position of the pulsed dye laser (PDL) in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases is still unclear. Evidence-based recommendations are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to systematically review all available literature concerning PDL treatment for inflammatory skin diseases and to propose a recommendation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched for publications dated between January 1992 and August 2011 in the database PubMed. All studies reporting on PDL treatment for an inflammatory skin disease were obtained and a level of evidence was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Literature search revealed 52 articles that could be included in this study. The inflammatory skin diseases treated with PDL consisted of: psoriasis, acne vulgaris, lupus erythematodes, granuloma faciale, sarcoidosis, eczematous lesions, papulopustular rosacea, lichen sclerosis, granuloma annulare, Jessner lymphocytic infiltration of the skin, and reticular erythematous mucinosis. The efficacy of PDL laser treatment for these inflammatory skin diseases was described and evaluated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most conclusions formulated are not based on randomized controlled trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDL treatment can be recommended as an effective and safe treatment for localized plaque psoriasis and acne vulgaris (recommendation grade B). For all other described inflammatory skin diseases, PDL seems to be promising, although the level of recommendation did not exceed level C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Amphia Hospital Breda, Breda, The Netherlands. Electronic address: aerceg@amphia.nl.
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erceg
authors.forename: Elke M J G
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: Peter C M
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: van de Kerkhof
authors.forename: Marieke M B
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Seyger
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054025:Lasers, Dye / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: CDLE; GF; LOE; LT; PDL; RCT; SCLE; SLE; UVB; chronic discoid lupus erythematodes; granuloma faciale; inflammatory; level of evidence; lupus tumidus; pulsed dye laser; randomized controlled trials; skin diseases; subacute cutaneous lupus erythematodes; systemic lupus erythematodes; treatment; ultraviolet-B