Beneficial Effect of Low Fluence 1,064 nm Q-Switched Neodymium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Laser in the Treatment of Senile Lentigo

BACKGROUND: Low fluence 1,064 nm Q-switched (QS) Neodymium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser treatment, also known as laser toning, is widely used for pigmentary disorders. There has been no reliable evaluation of the effect of low fluence 1,064 nm QS Nd:YAG laser for senile lentigo. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the beneficial effect of low fluence 1,064 nm QS Nd:YAG laser in the treatment of senile lentigo on the face. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on patients treated only with repetitive low fluence 1,064 nm QS Nd:YAG laser. Among them, 12 patients with multiple senile lentigines before treatment were included. All side effects were recorded to assess the safety of the modality. RESULTS: Mean age was 56.1±7.8 years old and male-to-female ratio was 1:11. Mean treatment fluence was 1.62±0.16 J/cm(2) and mean total treatment session was 8.8±2.6. Mean interval period between each session was 28.0±11.4 days and mean treatment session to reach marked and near total improvement was 8.7±2.8. At the final visit, seven of 12 (58.3%) patients reached marked and near total improvement, and three of 12 (25.0%) reached moderate improvement. No side effects occurred. CONCLUSION: Repetitive low fluence 1,064 nm QS Nd:YAG laser treatment may be an effective and safe optional modality for senile lentigo.