Introduction

Benign pigmented lesions such as freckles, sun spots, lentigines, and mixed dyschromia are common reasons patients seek laser treatment. Treating pigment can be more complex in darker skin because excess melanin in the surrounding epidermis may also absorb laser energy, increasing the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This clinical white paper evaluated two PicoWay picosecond laser handpieces designed to address diffuse and focal pigmentation with very short pulses intended to create a primarily photoacoustic effect.

What the publication studied

The prospective, IRB-approved study included 84 participants with Fitzpatrick Skin Types II through V. Seventy-six percent of participants had Asian or Mediterranean/Middle Eastern skin. Subjects received up to four treatments at six-week intervals to the face or body. The Resolve Fusion 532 nm handpiece was used mainly for full-face treatment, while the 730 nm handpiece was used primarily for focal pigmented lesions. In total, 315 treatments were performed.

Key findings

At the three-month follow-up, 82 treated areas were available for blinded assessment. Eighty-three percent of treated areas responded to treatment, and 77% were rated as having an excellent or complete response, meaning more than 50% pigment clearance. Patient satisfaction was also high: 94% of assessments indicated satisfaction, including 50% rated as extremely satisfied. Average treatment discomfort was 3.4 out of 10 for the 730 nm handpiece and 5.8 out of 10 for Resolve Fusion 532 nm. The reported post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation rate was 2.4%, while rebound melasma was reported in 4.8% of subjects.