Pulsed dye laser treatment of necrobiosis lipoidica: report of a case

A 23-year-old woman with long-standing insulin dependent diabetes presented with necrobiosis lipoidica. She was particularly troubled by the telangiectatic element of the lesion and therefore underwent test treatment with the pulsed dye laser. At low fluences minimal therapeutic effect was achieved, and at higher fluences skin breakdown occurred. This resolved with conservative management. It would appear that caution is required when attempting to treat necrobiosis lipoidica with laser.