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Combined Er:YAG, alexandrite laser effective for benign melanocytic nevi

For small benign melanocytic nevi, researchers found combined treatment with short pulsed Er:YAG and long-pulsed alexandrite laser had low recurrence rates with minimal adverse effects.

The study included 65 melanocytic nevi in 24 patients with a mean age of 32.4 years. Nevi were categorized into junctional or compound types.

All melanocytic nevi were treated with multiple sessions of a combined laser treatment approach, short pulsed Er:YAG laser and long-pulsed 755-nm alexandrite laser treatment, at 1-month intervals, according to researchers.

Researchers adjusted the number of treatment sessions based on clinical response of each nevus.

Photographs were taken at baseline and 8 weeks after the final treatment and evaluated by two independent blinded physicians. Patients were examined by physicians at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 weeks and 6 months following final treatment.

The mean improvement in skin texture and overall appearance graded by both physicians was within Grade 3 or marked improvement at scores of 3.3 and 3.6, rated at 8 weeks after therapy.

Researchers found that the types of melanocytic nevi did not have a statistically significant effect on the objective improvement scale. Additionally, the number of treatments needed for the two types of acquired melanocytic nevi did not differ. However, the mean number of treatments was significantly greater in the congenital melanocytic nevi group to reach clearance, compared to the junctional or compound acquired melanocytic nevi group.

The combined laser treatment was well-tolerated and caused no serious adverse events at the 6-month follow-up, according to researchers.

The recurrence rate was 1.5% at the 6-month follow-up.

"This combined laser treatment is [more] effective than pigment lasers alone and has less downtime and a lower risk for complications than the combined CO₂ and pigment-specific laser treatment," according to researchers. -by Abigail Sutton

Disclosures: The authors reported no significant financial disclosures.