title: Novel use of non-ablative fractional photothermolysis for café-au-lait macules in darker skin types.
abstract: The removal of café-au-lait macules (CALMs) in patients with darker skin phototypes poses a significant challenge due to limited available therapeutic options and increased risk of adverse effects, including permanent scarring and further dyspigmentation. Herein, we demonstrate the novel use of non-ablative fractional photothermolysis for the safe removal of CALMs in individuals with Fitzpatrick skin type (FST) IV-V.
  
  
  
  Retrospective analysis of four patients (FST IV-V) with CALMs revealed that three of these patients had greater than 50% clearance after multiple treatment sessions with the non-ablative fractional 1,550-nm erbium-doped fiber laser.
  
  
  
  This report demonstrates the utility and safety of non-ablative fractional resurfacing in the treatment of CALMs in darker skin phototypes. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:84-87, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Brundha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Balaraman
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Nashua, New Hampshire.
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ravanfar-Jordan
authors.affiliation: Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center, Houston, Texas.|Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas.|Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019080:Cafe-au-Lait Spots / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004954:Esthetics; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cafe-Au-Lait Macules; birthmark; cosmetic; laser