Lasers,lights, and compounds for melasma in aesthetics

Melasma is a chronic and relapsing skin condition. Although melasma is usually asymptomatic, it can be associated with immense psychosocial stress and greatly impact a patient's quality of life. Over the years, many different treatments have been used, ranging from daily photoprotection, topical lightening creams, and oral agents to laser and light-based therapies; however, efficacy is often limited with such treatments, and there is currently no effective modality to prevent recurrence. Although treatment strategies had originally centered on the use of hydroquinone, newer modalities now include oral tranexamic acid and lasers. We examined previous and ongoing debates related to melasma treatments and have reviewed the current efficacy and safety of available treatments. Critical components essential to the successful management of melasma are the setting of patient expectations and assurance of treatment compliance.     

Fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser combined with topical tretinoin for the treatment of different forms of cystic acne

Nodulocystic acne is prone to scarring and difficult to treat with treatments other than oral isotretinoin. The aim of this article is to discuss the role of a single session of a fractional carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser combined with a topical treatment with a tretinoin and antibiotic gel for a month as a successful treatment to improve nodulocystic acne and chronic microcystic acne. Two cases were involved: the first with nodulocystic acne lesions that persisted after oral retinoids and the second with chronic microcystic acne resistant to topical treatments. After only one session of treatment with the CO₂ laser and the topical treatment, a complete healing of the nodulocystic acne lesions was observed with minimal secondary effects. The microcystic acne showed great improvement. No other topical or oral treatment was needed. This treatment could be a safe and effective treatment for nodulocystic acne lesions and microcystic acne when other treatments fail. More studies should be performed to confirm our results.     

The new age of acne therapy: Light,lasers, and radiofrequency

BACKGROUND: Current treatments for acne vulgaris include topical and oral medications that counteract microcomedone formation, sebum production, Propionibacterium acnes, and inflammation. Concerns about the short‐ and long‐term consequences of these medications, along with technological advancements, have to significant progress in the management of acne. These developments include light, laser, and radio frequency, which may offer faster onset of action, equal or greater efficacy, and greater convenience than traditional approaches. CONCLUSION: Research emphasizing long‐term follow‐up and comparative, randomized trials is necessary to determine whether these emerging technologies will become a viable alternative to standard therapies such as antibiotics.     

Evaluating resurfacing modalities in aesthetics

Skin resurfacing for cutaneous rejuvenation has evolved with the development of a plethora of nonsurgical and minimally invasive modalities. We have highlighted the advances in laser therapy, chemical peels, radiofrequency, microneedling, and platelet-rich plasma therapy. We have also included studies providing head-to-head comparisons between procedures and discussed relevant debates in the field. We have examined additionally combination treatments and resurfacing in acne scars, melasma, and skin of color.     

Recent Advances in Acne Pathogenesis: Implications for Therapy

Acne pathogenesis is a multifactorial process that occurs at the level of the pilosebaceous unit. While acne was previously perceived as an infectious disease, recent data have clarified it as an inflammatory process in which Propionibacterium acnes and innate immunity play critical roles in propagating abnormal hyperkeratinization and inflammation. Alterations in sebum composition, and increased sensitivity to androgens, also play roles in the inflammatory process. A stepwise approach to acne management utilizes topical agents for mild to moderate acne (topical retinoid as mainstay ± topical antibiotics) and escalation to oral agents for more resistant cases (oral antibiotics or hormonal agents in conjunction with a topical retinoid or oral isotretinoin alone for severe acne). Concerns over antibiotic resistance and the safety issues associated with isotretinoin have prompted further research into alternative medications and devices for the treatment of acne. Radiofrequency, laser, and light treatments have demonstrated modest improvement for inflammatory acne (with blue-light photodynamic therapy being the only US FDA-approved treatment). However, limitations in study design and patient follow-up render these modalities as adjuncts rather than standalone options. This review will update readers on the latest advancements in our understanding of acne pathogenesis and treatment, with emphasis on emerging treatment options that can help improve patient outcomes.     

Management of acne vulgaris: an evidence‐based update

This review summarizes clinically important findings from 3 systematic reviews, 1 updated guideline and a selection from the 62 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between February 2007 and January 2009 on the topic of acne vulgaris. Low glycaemic‐load diets might reduce acne severity but this remains unproven. Written patient information leaflets have not been surpassed by other communication methods. New combination topical treatments have not shown convincing advantages over current combination products such as clindamycin/benzoyl peroxide. Topical dapsone is superior to placebo but has yet to be compared with standard topical treatments. Long‐term topical tretinoin to prevent nonmelanoma skin cancer in elderly men was associated with higher all‐cause mortality, but there is currently no evidence of increased mortality for topical retinoid use when treating acne. All oral tetracyclines have similar efficacy, yet minocycline is the most costly. Oral isotretinoin monotherapy remains the gold‐standard treatment for severe acne. Flutamide plus the oral contraceptive pill is beneficial for acne associated with polycystic ovary syndrome. Photodynamic therapy, phototherapy and laser therapy cannot be recommended universally for acne until minimal postinflammatory pigmentation and longer‐term benefit can be shown, especially with current high costs. Development of non‐antibiotic therapies is preferable to minimize the risk of community antibiotic resistance. Future trials should use active comparators at optimum doses and avoid noninferiority comparisons unless appropriately powered. Trials need to shift from using multiple, unvalidated outcome measures to including patient‐reported and quality‐of‐life outcomes, and all trials should be registered on a public clinical‐trials database.     

Retrospective analysis of the treatment of psoriasis of the palms and soles

In this retrospective analysis, the effect of currently used treatments in 26 patients with psoriasis of the palms and soles were analyzed. In general, patients are treated initially with topical medications including superpotent topical corticosteroids in combination with calcipotriene ointment or tazarotene gel or both. If satisfactory improvement is not achieved in 4-8 weeks, systemic retinoids are added, formerly etretinate and currently acitretin, except in women of childbearing potential. If the latter regimen is not effective within two months, soak PUVA is added to the regimen of oral retinoids and topical medications. If improvement is inadequate, or if the treatment regimen is not tolerated, methotrexate or cyclosporine have been added in the past. The availability of the excimer laser has recently modified our approach so that this therapy is used in combination with acitretin before soak PUVA. With the availability of biologic agents, methotrexate is avoided because of its hepatotoxicity and bone marrow toxicity and cyclosporine is avoided because of its nephrotoxicity. If oral acitretin plus topical therapy is not adequate to control the disease and the excimer laser is not an option because of its limited availability, alefacept, etanercept and infliximab are added when possible. Other biologic agents are likely to be added to this list in the future.     

Successful treatment with 308‐nm monochromatic excimer light and subsequent tacrolimus 0.03% ointment in refractory plasma cell cheilitis

Plasma cell cheilitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that presents with erythema, erosions, ulcers and occasional nodules within the mucosa, including the lips. It is histopathologically characterized by dense plasma cell infiltration in the lamina propria of the mucous membranes. Several treatments for plasma cell cheilitis have been reported, including topical steroids, topical antibiotics or topical tacrolimus. However, 308‐nm monochromatic excimer light (MEL) has never been reported as a treatment option, while it was reported to be very effective in treating erosive oral lichen planus. We report a 62‐year‐old man who had chronic plasma cell cheilitis on the lower lip, which was refractory to topical and systemic corticosteroid. The lesion and severe pain were significantly improved by the treatment with nine sessions of 308‐nm MEL twice per week with a total dose of 1120 mJ/cm². However, the lesion gradually worsened after treatment frequency was reduced to once per month. Subsequent tacrolimus 0.03% ointment cleared the lesion completely in a month and no recurrence was observed a year later. Refractory plasma cell cheilitis and concomitant severe pain quickly responded to 308‐nm MEL when administrated twice per week. Because the long interval between each MEL treatment seemed ineffective to improve the lesion, appropriate frequency and adequate total dose of MEL treatment may be necessary for a successful treatment.     

Use of permethrin in the treatment of rosacea fulminans during pregnancy: One case report

Rosacea fulminans (RF) is a rare dermatological condition which occurs exclusively in women and it is characterized by a sudden onset of painful papules, pustules, cysts, and nodules on the face. A 28‐year‐old woman was referred to our clinic due to a painful facial eruption within the 13th week of her second pregnancy. After physical examination, the diagnosis of RF during pregnancy was established. Several treatments were used: mupirocin ointment, topical zinc oxide, topical erythromycin, oral erythromycin, metronidazole gel, oral metronidazole, oral amoxiciline, and oral prednisone. Finally, the patient was started on 5% permethrin cream with complete clearing of the lesions. Nowadays, a wide range of treatments for rosacea is available: topical metronidazole, oral metronidazole, topical ivermectin, oral tetracyclines, oral isotretinoin, systemic steroids, photodynamic therapy, or pulsed dye laser. However, in pregnant patients, the treatment alternatives are limited. We consider that 5% permethrin cream could be an effective, cheap, and safe treatment not only in regular patients with rosacea but also in pregnant women, representing an important alternative in the context of pregnancy when therapeutic options are limited. To our knowledge, this is the first case of rosacea treated with 5% permethrin cream in monotherapy during pregnancy.     

An assessment of traditional and novel therapies for cellulite.

There are numerous treatments for cellulite including topical, surgical, laser and other therapies. Many of these treatments are expensive. Part of the difficulty in treating cellulite arises from our incomplete understanding of this phenomenon. As noted previously in this journal, there is no consensus as to the etiology of cellulite. This article will focus on both traditional and novel treatments for cellulite and assess their efficacy based on the scientific literature.     

富血小板血浆联合CO2点阵激光治疗萎缩性痤疮瘢痕疗效和安全性Meta分析

目的：系统评价富血小板血浆联合CO₂点阵激光治疗面部萎缩性痤疮瘢痕的有效性及安全性。方法：检索从建库到2019年7月Cochrane Library、Embase、Medline、中国知网、万方数据库及维普数据库中富血小板血浆联合CO₂点阵激光治疗面部萎缩性痤疮瘢痕的随机对照试验,筛选符合要求的文献并根据Cochrane偏倚风险评估方法评价纳入文献质量, 采用Revman5.3软件进行Meta分析。结果：最终纳入5个RCTs和Meta分析,结果显示：①联合疗法的总有效率和治愈率均高于单用激光组（P=0.008,0.0002）;②联合疗法和单用激光组的红斑、水肿持续时间及疼痛评分无统计学差异（P=0.21,0.35,0.50）。结论：富血小板血浆联合CO₂点阵激光治疗萎缩性痤疮瘢痕的疗效优于单独使用CO₂点阵激光,不良反应无明显差异。     

Therapies for the treatment of onychomycosis

Onychomycosis treatments include nail avulsion and debridement by chemical or surgical procedures, topical and oral antifungals, and device-based therapies. The advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of the different types of treatments—including the most commonly prescribed topical (ciclopirox) and oral (terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole) treatments for onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes, non-dermatophyte molds, and yeasts—are reviewed. Safety and efficacy data for the healthy adult population and for special populations such as children and diabetic patients have confirmed the importance of proper mycological diagnosis before the initiation of therapy as well as the evaluation of the risks and benefits of the different treatments.     

Onychomycosis: a review

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail, causing discoloration and thickening of the affected nail plate, and is the most common nail infection worldwide. Onychomycosis was initially thought to be predominantly caused by dermatophytes; however, new research has revealed that mixed infections and those caused by non-dermatophyte moulds (NDMs) are more prevalent than previously thought, especially in warmer climates. Microscopy and fungal culture are the gold standard techniques for onychomycosis diagnosis, but high false-negative rates have pushed for more accurate methods, such as histology and PCR. As NDMs are skin and laboratory contaminants, their presence as an infectious agent requires multiple confirmations and repeated sampling. There are several treatment options available, including oral antifungals, topicals and devices. Oral antifungals have higher cure rates and shorter treatment periods than topical treatments, but have adverse side effects such as hepatotoxicity and drug interactions. Terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconazole are most commonly used, with new oral antifungals such as fosravuconazole being evaluated. Topical treatments, such as efinaconazole, tavaborole, ciclopirox and amorolfine have less serious side effects, but also have generally lower cure rates and much longer treatment regimens. New topical formulations are being investigated as faster-acting alternatives to the currently available topical treatments. Devices such as lasers have shown promise in improving the cosmetic appearance of the nail, but due to a high variation of study methods and definitions of cure, their effectiveness for onychomycosis has yet to be sufficiently proven. Recurrence rates for onychomycosis are high; once infected, patients should seek medical treatment as soon as possible and sanitize their shoes and socks. Prophylactic application of topicals and avoiding walking barefoot in public places may help prevent recurrence.     

Treatment of bullous pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most frequent auto-immune blistering skin disease. Up to recently, it was treated with oral corticosteroids. High dose steroids are poorly tolerated in the elderly and probably contributed to the high mortality rates observed in several cohorts. For years, efforts have been devoted to looking for steroid sparing agents including immunosuppressive drugs, plasma exchanges, intravenous immunoglobulins, tetracycline. Many seemed useful in open series but proved ineffective or marginally effective when tested in randomized controlled trials. An important breakthrough was the demonstration by a large randomized trial that a "super-potent" topical corticosteroid (clobetasol propionate) was not only associated with a significant decrease in severe complications and mortality of BP patients but was also more effective than oral prednisone. New strategies for BP should include topical clobetasol propionate as the first line treatment and consider adjuvant therapy only in the very rare cases that are either resistant to or intolerant of this treatment.     

Blistering diseases in the elderly: diagnosis and treatment

This article discusses the major blistering diseases in the geriatric population. The diagnosis of both immune- and non-immune-mediated blistering disorders can be confirmed with the help of histologic and immunopathologic studies. Various serologic assays, which are more specific, also can be used to confirm the diagnosis of autoimmune blistering diseases. These techniques have facilitated the diagnosis and allowed the institution of early treatment. The treatment of blistering disorders has included both localized and systemic treatments. Localized treatment involves topical care including the following measures: the prevention of trauma; soaking of blisters in antiseptic (potassium permanganate or aluminum subacetate) solutions; topical and intralesional corticosteroids; and the prevention and early treatment of infections with local or systemic antibiotics. Conventional oral systemic therapies that have proved to be beneficial include systemic corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory agents, and immunosuppressive agents. Because the elderly are more prone to the side effects of these systemic agents, it is crucial that routine hematologic tests be done and monitored until the treatments have been discontinued. Recently, newer alternative treatment modalities have proved to be successful in patients who failed to respond or developed multiple side effects to the conventional oral systemic agents. In conclusion, as clinicians gain a greater understanding into the pathogenesis of these diseases, more specific molecular-targeted treatments will most likely become available.     

Non-melanoma skin cancers: Photodynamic therapy,cryotherapy, 5-fluorouracil,imiquimod, diclofenac,or what? Facts and controversies

Surgical modalities–excision, Mohs micrographic surgery, and electrodesiccation with curettage–are the preferred treatments for nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). When used within guidelines, they have cure rates greater than 90%. Despite this, many other treatments have been studied and utilized for NMSC. We present a comprehensive review of the literature on these topical treatments. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is administered under numerous and significantly varied regimens, and there are a wide range of cure rates reported. Even with aggressive regimens, PDT is not as effective as surgery is, and it is not a first-line therapy for NMSC. The cryotherapy regimen aggressive enough to adequately treat NMSC carries adverse effects and cosmetic outcomes poor enough to negate its usefulness. Topical 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod are efficacious and safe for the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) but not other BCC subtypes or squamous cell carcinoma. They are self-administered twice daily for several weeks; therefore, patient and tumor selection are vital to ensuring adherence. There are currently insufficient data to support the use of topical diclofenac and ingenol mebutate for NMSC.     

Laser and other light therapies for the treatment of acne vulgaris: systematic review

Background  Acne is common and can lead to scarring of the skin, as well as to psychological distress and reduced self-esteem. Most topical or oral treatments for acne are inconvenient and have side-effects. Laser and other light therapies have been reported to be convenient, safe and effective in treating acne.
Objectives  To carry out a systematic review of randomized controlled trials of light and laser therapies for acne vulgaris.
Methods  We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, LILACS, ISI Science Citation Index and Dissertation Abstracts International for relevant published trials.
Results  We identified 25 trials (694 patients), 13 of light therapy and 12 of light therapy plus light-activated topical cream (photodynamic therapy, PDT). Overall, the results from trials of light alone were disappointing, but the trials of blue light, blue–red light and infrared radiation were more successful, particularly those using multiple treatments. Red–blue light was more effective than topical 5% benzoyl peroxide cream in the short term. Most trials of PDT showed some benefit, which was greater with multiple treatments, and better for noninflammatory acne lesions. However, the improvements in inflammatory acne lesions were not better than with topical 1% adapalene gel, and the side-effects of therapy were unacceptable to many participants.
Conclusions  Some forms of light therapy were of short-term benefit. Patients may find it easier to comply with these treatments, despite the initial discomfort, because of their short duration. However, very few trials compared light therapy with conventional acne treatments, were conducted in patients with severe acne or examined long-term benefits of treatment.     

Update on treatments for erosive vulvovaginal lichen planus

Vulvovaginal lichen planus (VVLP) is a debilitating disease that causes significant pain and psychological distress. Management is made difficult by the chronic course of the disease and its resistance to treatment. While topical steroids have been accepted as the first-line treatment, they fail to achieve symptomatic control in approximately 40% of patients. Second-line therapies include other topical treatments such as calcineurin inhibitors, systemic therapies including oral steroids, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, biologics, and tacrolimus, and procedural options including surgery and dilation, photodynamic therapy, and ultrasound. This review provides an overview of the current treatments and explores the level of evidence supporting each of them.     

激光治疗脱发的研究进展

激光不仅可以单独治疗脱发,而且能够通过激光辅助给药增强局部抗脱发药物的生物利用度。本文从低能量激光、点阵激光、准分子激光以及激光辅助给药等四个方面分别阐述脱发治疗的最新研究进展。