Treatment of Nevus of Ota in Fitzpatrick skin type VI with the 1064-nm QS Nd:YAG laser

Lasers Surg Med. 2011 Feb;43(2):65-7. doi: 10.1002/lsm.21011.

Abstract

Background: Nevus of Ota is a pigmented lesion that usually presents at birth. Due to a greater risk for complications, physicians have not always utilized laser therapy to treat these nevi in patients with darker skin types.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the 1,064-nm Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (QS Nd:YAG) laser for the treatment of Nevus of Ota in two patients with Fitzpatrick skin type (FST) VI.

Results: After 4-13 treatment sessions with the 1,064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with a 4 mm spot size and fluence of 4-4.2 J/cm(2), two patients with FST VI noted substantial improvement in the appearance of the nevi.

Conclusion: At conservative treatment settings, these two case reports have shown that the 1,064-nm QS Nd:YAG laser can be utilized to safely and effectively treat Nevus of Ota in individuals with FST IV-VI.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lasers, Solid-State / therapeutic use*
  • Nevus of Ota / diagnosis
  • Nevus of Ota / surgery*
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Skin Pigmentation*
  • Treatment Outcome