Treatment of café au lait macules in Chinese patients with a Q-switched 755-nm alexandrite laser.

BACKGROUND: Café au lait macules (CALMs) are a benign epidermal hyperpigmentation disorder. Although CALMs have been removed successfully with lasers, there have been few investigations on the use of the Q-switched 755-nm alexandrite laser.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Q-switched 755-nm alexandrite laser for the treatment of CALMs in Chinese patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, data of CALMs patients (n = 48) treated with a Q-switched 755-nm alexandrite laser were collected. Patients received an average of 3.2 treatments. Clinical responses were assessed by three blinded investigators. Adverse effects and recurrence rates were also evaluated. The mean follow-up time was 16.1 months.

RESULTS: Good to excellent responses were achieved in 26 patients (54.1%) and poor responses in 8 patients (16.7%). Recurrence was noted in five patients (10.4%) and transient hypopigmentation was observed in one patient. Efficacy was significantly greater in males than in females while patient age and lesional area did not show significant correlation with efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS: The Q-switched 755-nm alexandrite laser shows relatively high efficacy in removing CALMs and the recurrence rate is low. Males respond might more favorably than females.