Cold Air Cooling Increases the Risk of Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation Following Q-switched Nd:YAG Laser Treatment of Acquired Bilateral Nevus of Ota-like Macules

Wanitphakdeedecha, MD, Woraphong Manuskiatti, MD, Sasima Eimpunth, MD
Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, THAILAND

RESULTS:

Of the 21 subjects, 13 (61.9%) versus 5 (23.8%) subjects developed PIH on the cooled and non-cooled sides, respectively. One subject (4.8%) had PIH on both side. Two subjects (9.5%) did not experience PIH. The onset of PIH was shown in Table 1. Cooled sides were significantly more likely to developed PIH than non-cooled sides (relative risk, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.13 to 6; P=.03). The clinical evaluation corresponded to the SpectroPhotometer reading.

CONCLUSIONS:

The present study suggests that epidermal cooling with cold air is associated with an increased risk of PIH following a laser treatment.

No. of weeks
after treatment		 No. of Subjects Percent (%)
1 1/21 4.8%
2 13/21 61.9%
3 3/21 14.3%
4 2/21 9.5%
Figure 1 The onset of PIH at week 1, 2, 3, and 4 after treatment
REFERENCES:
  • Ruiz-Maldonado R, Orozco-Covarrubias ML. Postinflammatory hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation. Semin Cutan Med Surg 1997;16:36-43.
  • Ee HL, Wong HC, Goh CL, Ang P. Characteristics of Hori naevus: a prospective analysis. Br J Dermatol 2006;154:50-3.
  • Hori Y, Kawashima M, Oohara K, Kukita A. Acquired, bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules. J Am Acad Dermatol 1984;10:961-4.
  • Polnikorn N, Tanrattanakorn S, Goldberg DJ. Treatment of Hori's nevus with the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Dermatol Surg 2000;26:477-80.
  • Raulin C, Greve B, Hammes S. Cold air in laser therapy: first experiences with a new cooling system. Lasers Surg Med 2000;27:404-10.
  • Zenzie HH, Altshuler GB, Smirnov MZ, Anderson RR. Evaluation of cooling methods for laser dermatology. Lasers Surg Med 2000;26:130-44.
  • Datrice N, Ramirez-San-Juan J, Zhang R et al. Cutaneous effects of cryogen spray cooling on in vivo human skin. Dermatol Surg 2006;32:1007-12.