title: Comparative study on bruise reduction treatments after bruise induction using the pulsed dye laser.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several bruise reduction methods have been suggested to decrease postprocedure ecchymoses. Comparing the effectiveness of common bruise reduction therapies provides better evidence of the efficacy of bruise reduction techniques.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of cold compresses, hydrogen peroxide, over-the-counter bruise serum, and pulsed dye laser (PDL) in minimizing the time required for bruise resolution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen patients aged 22 to 51 (mean 28) with Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV underwent bruise induction with a PDL to produce five 2- by 2-cm zones of bruising on the lower abdomen. Excluding the control, bruises were randomly treated using a cold compress, bruise serum, 3% hydrogen peroxide-soaked gauze, or PDL. Subjects and two blinded physician evaluators evaluated bruise severity and graded it on a visual analog scale on days 0, 3, and 7.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment did not result in statistically significantly shorter bruise resolution time than in controls. PDL-treated bruises took a statistically significantly longer time to resolve than controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed no significant difference in cold compress, hydrogen peroxide, and over-the-counter serum in reducing time to bruise resolution. PDL therapy resulted in greater bruise severity scores and increased time to bruise resolution when used soon after bruise induction.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Tiffany T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Mayo
authors.forename: Farhan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Kristy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: Ramsey
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Markus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003288:Contusions / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017679:Cryotherapy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004438:Ecchymosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005990:Glycerol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054025:Lasers, Dye / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D031665:Oenothera biennis; D016877:Oxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D016877:Oxidants; D010938:Plant Oils; D014810:Vitamin E; C028498:evening primrose oil; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005990:Glycerol