Newer uses for pulsed dye lasers; New from the Paris Conf
These pulsed dye lasers have always been great lasers – especially the now classic and still great VBeam. These are used primarily for problems with red and dilated blood vessels on the face and body. As many of you know, I often come down on the side of using an IPL (instead of a pulsed dye laser PDL) on the face, neck and chest because, IF the IPL is powerful enough and can be customized, in my opinion the global results are better. This is because red and brown can be treated at the same time and…………the longer wavelengths with the IPL build more collagen than the pulsed dye.
Several broader ways to use the pulsed dye were discussed at the conference. There is clearly newer data and good results using the pulsed dye/VBeam on difficult to treat keloids and hypertrophic scars. There is some still limited evidence (but important) that in some patients, treating the vascular component of their melasma is helpful to them and there is was an excellent talk on using the PDL on leg veins, especially the difficult to treat matting.
Pulsed dye lasers may be something to consider if you have one of these problems.
Hope this helps, Dr. I

IMCAS Paris Conference on Skin