DOI: 10.1097/01.IOP.0000077083.35395.A2
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Issn Print: 0740-9303
Publication Date: 2003/07/01
Excerpt
In a retrospective study, 80 randomly selected patients treated with a filtered flashlamp intense pulsed light (IPL) were analyzed for improvement in photoaging, pigmentation, and telangiectasia. The instrument is not a laser: a broadband light source, or intense pulsed light, is emitted as a continuous spectrum in the range of 515 to 1200 nm. Low-end cut-off filters eliminate shorter wavelengths to deliver effective wavelengths for various clinical applications. For photoaged patients, IPL is used to promote collagen production and the proliferation of the epidermis. Since the overlying epidermis is not destroyed, the technique is termed nonablative. Photoaged patients were generally treated with the original PhotoDerm VL (Lumenis, Santa Clara, CA) at 570 nm, using double pulses of 2.4 millisecond (ms) duration followed by a 10-ms delay, and a 6.0-ms pulse. Pigmentation was treated at settings of 550 nm, double pulses of 2.4 ms, followed by a 10-ms delay and a 4-ms pulse. For telangiectasia, a 570-nm filter with settings of double pulse 2.4 ms, 10-ms delay, and 6–8 ms coupled second pulse were used. Fluences included 22 to 28 J/cm2 for a single pulse and a range of 30 to 44 J/cm2 for double pulses. The long-term results were based on photographic analysis and patient self-assessment. After a median number of three treatments, skin texture improved in 82% of photoaged subjects, pigmentation improved in 79%, and telangiectasia improved in 82%. Intense pulsed light reduced some, but not all rhytides, and was more effective in the face than the neck or chest region. Overall in the facial region, 90% of patients had improved skin texture, decreased telangiectasia, or more uniform pigmentation. Minimal or no downtime, with minimal adverse effects, was achieved. Most common side effects included temporary mild crusting (19%), erythema (15%), and purpura (6%).
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