February 7, 2008, Wayland, MA--At the recent American Academy of Dermatology meeting, Candela Corporation reported findings of six recently published peer-reviewed studies in which its Vbeam Perfecta dye laser and GentleLASE alexandrite laser were highlighted. The studies for the Vbeam Perfecta tested the effectiveness and safety for treatment of various lesions. The GentleLASE studies tested the efficacy of treating pigmented lesions and showcased a head-to-head comparison with the IPL system specific to hair removal treatment.
Vbeam Perfecta is a pulsed dye laser used for treatment of a wide range of vascular conditions including rejuvenation by correcting generalized red and brown discoloration, rosacea, age spots, and psoriasis.
A December 2007 study in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery entitled, "Use of a Novel Pulsed Dye Laser for Rapid Single-Pass Purpura-Free Treatment of Telangiectases" was designed to optimize treatment parameters for fast, effective, single pass treatment using Perfecta. Thirty patients with lesions on their noses, necks and cheeks were treated. All underwent a single treatment using the Vbeam Perfecta.
"No matter what sized vessel was treated and regardless of the treatment approach, purpura was not observed just after treatment nor was delayed purpura (even mild) reported by any patient," said Edward Victor Ross, MD, who commissioned the study along with Nathan S. Uebelhoer DO, and Yacov Domankevitz, PhD. "With this system, safe, effective, consistent and rapid vessel reduction was achieved."
Overall the results showed approximately 70% reduction of smaller telangiectases with just one treatment session. "With the new eight-pulselet system (Vbeam Perfecta), one can achieve fluences as high as 10J/cm2 with the 10mm spot and achieve single pass clearance. This is a major advantage over previous generations of PDLs," Uebelhoer said.
A study published in the February 2008 issue of the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery entitled, "Compression for the treatment of Epidermal Pigmented Lesions with the 595-mn Pulsed Dye Laser" investigated the effectiveness and safety of a compression technique for the treatment of epidermal pigmented lesions using the laser with no epidermal cooling. In this study, by Jerome M. Garden, MD, Abnoeal D. Bakus, PhD, and Yacov Domankevitz, PhD, results showed the compression technique is safe and effective and no purpura or long-lasting side-effects were observed. Twelve patients underwent treatments using the laser with a compression handpiece and no epidermal cooling. Each subject received one to four treatments, four to six weeks apart.
"By compressing a transparent convex optical element against the skin, the blood in the superficial vessels was squeezed out and displaced from the irradiated zone, thus minimizing absorption by blood in the superficial vessels and allowing the use of shorter pulses while reducing purpura and unwanted side effects," noted Dr. Garden.
In another study in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery entitled, "A Pulsed Dye Laser with a 10-mm Beam Diameter and a Pigmented Lesion Window for Purpura-Free Photorejuvenation" by Kenneth Galeckas, MD, Edward Victor Ross, MD, and Nathan S. Uebelhoer, DO, it was concluded that the laser is highly effective for two-pass, purpura-free improvement of telangiectases, pigment dyschromias, and texture. Twenty patients with skin types I to III were treated three times at three to four week intervals. In the majority of patients, greater than 90% reduction of fine telangiectasias and dark lentigines was achieved.
"With a large (10 mm) beam diameter, modified pulse structure, and compression handpiece of the Perfecta, time previously spent with two-pass treatments for telangiectases can now be redirected toward the treatment for lentigines for complete photorejuvenation encompassing vascular, pigmented and textural irregularities," said Dr. Ross.
Published in the November 2007 edition of Annals of Plastic Surgery, "Comparison Study of Intense Pulsed Light Versus a Long-Pulse Pulsed Dye Laser in the Treatment of Facial Skin Rejuvenation" was conducted by Taro Kono, MD, William Frederick Groff, DO, Hiroyuki Sakurai, MD, Masaki Takeuchi, MD, Takashi Yamaki, MD, Kazutaka Soejima, MD, and Motohiro Nozaki, MD. The objective of the study was to compare the effectiveness of intense pulsed light versus a long-pulse pulsed dye laser (LPDL) in the treatment of facial skin rejuvenation. Ten Asian patients with Fitzpatrick skin types III-IV were enrolled in this study. In conclusion, both IPL and LPDL are effective for facial skin rejuvenation in Asians. LPDL treatment is significantly better than IPL treatment in the treatment of lentigines, and when using the LPDL with the compression technique for skin rejuvenation, fewer treatments were necessary than with the IPL.
"The use of the compression technique may allow the Vbeam to be used effectively for facial rejuvenation and with fewer treatment sessions compared with the IPL," noted Dr. Kono.
"A Randomized, Split-Face Comparison of Facial Hair Removal With the Alexandrite Laser and Intense Pulsed Light System," published in the December issue 2007 of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, found GentleLASE far superior to the IPL from a scientific and patient perspective in testing for hair removal efficacy. In this randomized controlled study by D.J. McGill, MRCS (Ed),C. Hutchison, MA, E. McKenzie, BSc, E. McSherry, RGN, and I.R. Mackay, FRCS, women who typically demonstrate an increased rate of facial hair growth and whose hair is normally resistant to the usual course of treatments were studied. Six treatments were administered in this study with one, three and six month follow-ups. Researchers concluded that the alexandrite laser resulted in significantly longer hair-free intervals, a larger reduction in hair counts, and greater patient satisfaction than with the IPL.
"GentleLASE, when given the opportunity to demonstrate its full potential, outperformed the competition hands-down," Said Dr. Stephen W. Eubanks, M.D., Dermatology & Laser Center at Harvard Park in Denver, CO who has worked with GentleLASE.
The authors also concluded that the GentleLASE laser is more effective because of the specific wavelength, short pulse duration and single pulse delivery of the GentleLASE alexandrite laser, resulting in more follicular destruction than with the IPL.
In a December 2007 study in Journal of Dermatologic Surgery, "Use of a Long-Pulse Alexandrite Laser in the Treatment of Superficial Pigmented Lesions", researchers wanted to test the efficacy of the variable long-pulse alexandrite laser in the treatment of superficial pigmented lesions. In this study commissioned by John Paul Trafeli, MD, Julia M. Kwan, MD, Kenneth J. Meehan Pa-C, Yacov Domankevitz, PhD, Sandra Gilbert, BS, Kenneth Malomo, BS, and Edward Victor Ross, MD, eighteen patients underwent a single treatment session using a variable pulse-width alexandrite laser. Test sites were performed using a 10-mm spot size and up to four pulse widths (3, 20, 40, 60 ms) with and without epidermal cooling. The results found that the variable pulse 755 nm wavelength is effective and safe in removing superficial pigmented lesions. Shorter pulse widths and treatment without cryogen cooling both, independently, lowered the fluence threshold for lentigo clearance.
"The GentleLASE is highly effective in clearing solar lentigines in a single pass with minimal side effects," commented Dr. Eubanks. "Patients expressed great satisfaction especially because there were few side effects, treatments were quick and there was minimal down time."