Pulsed dye laser in treatment of steroid-induced atrophy

SummaryBackground One of the important and distressing cutaneous side effects of steroid therapy is skin atrophy, which has no definite and effective treatment. To the best of our knowledge, laser therapy for steroid-induced atrophic scars has not been investigated to date. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pulsed dye laser in the treatment of steroid-induced atrophic scars. Methods In this pilot study, 15 patients with at least one atrophic patch were treated with the 585-nm pulsed dye laser at 4-week interval sessions until achieving complete improvement or until patient were lost to follow-up. Clinical outcome was assessed via standard photographic method before each treatment session and after the final visit. An independent dermatologist evaluated the photographs. Result All of the patients (13 females and two males) with 25–59 years of age experienced some degree of improvement, except one patient who withdrew from the treatment after three sessions. The treatment was well tolerated. Conclusion The results of our study indicated that pulsed dye laser therapy could be employed as a new method in the treatment of steroid-induced atrophic scars. Pulsed dye laser might affect the lesions through inducing collagen deposition and production of more superficial dermal elastin as well as less unidirectional collagen in clusters.