Laser treatment of 26 Japanese patients with Mongolian spots.

BACKGROUND: Mongolian spots are congenital hyperpigmented areas of varying size and shape and are usually confluent grayish-blue in color. They are found most frequently in the sacral region and typically disappear during childhood. Occasionally, they persist to adulthood.

OBJECTIVE: We used Q-switched alexandrite laser treatment for Mongolian spots and examined therapeutic outcomes of 26 Japanese patients who consulted our department.

MATERIALS & METHODS: We retrospectively compared 26 Japanese patients before and after treatment.

RESULTS: A good therapeutic outcome was achieved overall, but some adult female patients subsequently developed severe postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Sacral Mongolian spots were more laser-resistant than extrasacral Mongolian spots.

CONCLUSION: The outcome correlated with the age of patients at the initiation of treatment; therefore, sacral and extrasacral Mongolian spots should be treated before 20 years of age. To avoid severe postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, the optimal interval between laser treatments and the use of other treatment modalities including Q-switched ruby laser, Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser, or bleaching creams should be considered. Our results will be of some help in considering the treatment course of patients with Mongolian spots.