Lasers for Other Specific Dermatologic Disorders
April 2019
TLDR Lasers and light therapy are effective for treating skin conditions like hair loss, vitiligo, psoriasis, and molluscum contagiosum.
The chapter reviewed the use of laser and light therapy for various pediatric dermatologic disorders, including alopecia areata (AA), vitiligo, psoriasis, molluscum contagiosum (MC), morphea, atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, and pityriasis lichenoides chronica. For AA, immunotherapy with agents like squaric acid dibutylester and diphenylcyclopropenone was commonly used. Narrowband-ultraviolet B phototherapy was a first-line treatment for generalized vitiligo, while the xenon-chloride excimer laser was an alternative for localized vitiligo. Psoriasis treatment depended on disease severity. The pulsed dye laser was noted as a safe and effective treatment for MC. Phototherapy was also considered an adjuvant or alternative treatment for atopic dermatitis.