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Pulsed dye laser effectively treated pearly penile papules

Pulsed dye laser was an effective, nonablative method for treating pearly penile papules that caused minimal discomfort in patients, according to recent study results.

Researchers in Ontario, Canada, studied four healthy men (aged 18 to 43 years) with a 3- to 20-year history of pearly penile papules (PPPs), benign, dome-shaped lesions similar to angiofibromas and located around the corona of the penis. The patients reported no physical discomfort from the papules; however, they cited emotional distress over their appearance. All patients were treated with pulsed dye laser (PDL).

Before treatment, photographs were taken and the area was cleaned with a sterile saline solution. A topical anesthetic was applied to the area and occluded with a wrap for 1 hour. One to three PDL treatments were performed using a 5-mm spot size and 0.50-ms pulse duration, ranging from 6 J/cm2 to 10 J/cm2. Patients used an over-the-counter topical antibiotic cream for 5 days after treatment.

Little to no discomfort was reported during the procedure, and bruising was minimal and diminished over time. All patients reported satisfaction with the results. PPP clearance was complete in three patients after two to three treatments, while one patient had a significant reduction after one treatment. Biopsy performed on one patient confirmed PPPs. The other three patients did not have biopsies, but a diagnosis of PPPs was determined for each man.

“The case reports … illustrate the superiority of the PDL in treating PPPs, because there is only minimal discomfort for the patients, unlike other current treatments available,” the researchers concluded. “In addition, the absence of post-procedural scarring and infection in conjunction with the accessible nature of the PDL offers dermatologists an efficient treatment for the PPPs.”

Disclosure: See the study for a full list of relevant disclosures.