Verruca plana as a complication of CO2 laser treatment: a case report.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser treatment is a common therapeutic modality for many dermatologic conditions. It uses a high energy, infrared beam of light, which selectively targets water-containing tissue resulting in controlled ablative resurfacing. This modality, however, can manifest significant cosmetic side effects. Here we report a case of verruca plana manifesting as a response to CO2 laser treatment. A 74-year-old female with recent Mohs surgery for a basal cell carcinoma, presented for full-face-fractionated CO2 treatment to address her surgical scars in addition to treating her mild diffuse actinic damage. Six weeks post treatment, the patient developed erythematous thin plaques over the areas that had been treated. Histology was consistent with verruca plana. Lesions showed mild improvement with topical tretinoin. Verruca plana are benign and typically self-limited; however, they can present a significant cosmetic burden to patients and are an important complication to consider when performing elective cosmetic procedures.
School of Medicine, Loma Linda University , Loma Linda , California.
Aubrey E
AE
Winn
Joshua
J
Kentosh
Jonathan L
JL
Bingham
D000368:Aged; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000009:adverse effects*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014860:Warts / Q000209:etiology*
CO2 laser; flat warts; human papillomavirus; verruca plana