title: Laser therapy for the treatment of Hailey-Hailey disease: a systematic review with focus on carbon dioxide laser resurfacing.
abstract: Benign familial chronic pemphigus, or Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD), is a recurrent bullous dermatitis that tends to have a chronic course with frequent relapses. Long-term treatment options include surgery with skin grafting or dermabrasion. Both are highly invasive and carry significant risks and complications. More recently, 'laser-abrasion' has been described as a less invasive option with a better side-effect profile. In this article, we systematically review the safety and efficacy of carbon dioxide laser therapy as a long-term treatment option for HHD, as well as provide a review of other lasers that have been reported with this goal. A total of 23 patients who had been treated with a carbon dioxide laser were identified. After treatment, 10 patients (43%) had had no recurrence, 10 (43%) had greater than 50% improvement, 2 (8%) had less than 50% improvement and 1 (4%) patient had no improvement at all (follow-up period ranged from 4 to 144 months). Laser parameter variability was wide and adverse effects were minimal, including dyspigmentation and scarring. Reviewed evidence indicates this therapy offers a safe, effective treatment alternative for HHD with minimal risk of side-effects. Larger, well-designed studies are necessary to determine the optimal treatment parameters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Falto-Aizpurua
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Yazdani Abyaneh
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nouri
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D054025:Lasers, Dye / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016506:Pemphigus, Benign Familial / Q000601:surgery*; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide