New picosecond laser treats pigmentary disorders in darker skin types

A case report published The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery shows the new 730-nm picosecond laser to have strong efficacy and safety in treating endogenous pigmentary disorders on darker skin types.

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Typically, picosecond lasers have been used for tattoo removal but are gaining traction as a novel treatment for pigmentary disorders, a market which has previously been dominated by quality-switched nanosecond lasers. The 730-nm picosecond laser was specifically designed to target melanocytes and melanin.¹

The study examines two Korean patients with III-IV Fitzpatrick skin types, as well as melasma, freckles and lentigines who were treated with 730‐nm Ti:Sapphire picosecond laser (Picoway, Syneron Candela Corp) with a pulse duration of 240 picoseconds.²

Both researchers saw significant pigmentary reduction and with one treatment session, which was well tolerated without topical anesthesia in both patients. In the 6-week follow-up, there were no observed post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation/repigmentation in either patient.¹

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“The new commercial 730 nm laser-pumped laser may be effective and safe in treating pigmentary disorders in darker-skinned patients,” says Sang Ju Lee, M.D., Ph.D., study investigator.

More information about the case study can be found here.

References:

1. Green, E. (2020, June 17). A new picosecond laser for the treatment of pigmentary disorders in darker-skinned patients. Retrieved July 30, 2020, from https://www.aslms.org/about-aslms/media-center/news/2020/06/17/a-new-picosecond-laser-for-the-treatment-of-pigmentary-disorders-in-darker-skinned-patients

2. Lee, S. J., Han, H. S., Hong, J. K., Park, K. Y., & Seo, S. J. (2020). Successful Treatment of Pigmentary Disorders in Asians With a Novel 730‐nm Picosecond Laser. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. doi:10.1002/lsm.23261