Pulsed dye laser in treatment of steroid-induced atrophy.
BACKGROUND
One of the important and distressing cutaneous side effects of steroid therapy is skin atrophy, which has no definite and effective treatment. To the best of our knowledge, laser therapy for steroid-induced atrophic scars has not been investigated to date.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pulsed dye laser in the treatment of steroid-induced atrophic scars.


METHODS
In this pilot study, 15 patients with at least one atrophic patch were treated with the 585-nm pulsed dye laser at 4-week interval sessions until achieving complete improvement or until patient were lost to follow-up. Clinical outcome was assessed via standard photographic method before each treatment session and after the final visit. An independent dermatologist evaluated the photographs.


RESULTS
All of the patients (13 females and two males) with 25-59 years of age experienced some degree of improvement, except one patient who withdrew from the treatment after three sessions. The treatment was well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study indicated that pulsed dye laser therapy could be employed as a new method in the treatment of steroid-induced atrophic scars. Pulsed dye laser might affect the lesions through inducing collagen deposition and production of more superficial dermal elastin as well as less unidirectional collagen in clusters.
Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Parvin
P
Mansouri
Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Maryam
M
Ranjbar
Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Ehsan
E
Abolhasani
Mona Lisa Dermatology, Dallas, TX, USA.
Reza
R
Chalangari
Mona Lisa Dermatology, Dallas, TX, USA.
Katalin
K
Martits-Chalangari
Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Somayeh
S
Hejazi
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054025:Lasers, Dye / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
atrophy; lasers; pulsed dye; steroid