Fractional Photothermolysis for Treatment of a Residual Discoid Lupus Erythematosus Lesion: A Case Report

Cutaneous discoid lupus erythematosus (CDLE) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease often resulting in permanent scarring of the affected area. Fractional photothermolysis (FP) is a well-known inducer of tissue regeneration by wounding the skin in a fractional pattern, hence inducing a well defined, wound healing response. It has been used clinically to treat atrophic as well as hypertrophic scars and also fibrotic diseases like morphea since more than a decade. We report a case of a young female patient treated with three sessions of ablative FP for stable atrophic scars due to CDLE affection of the upper left and right cheeks. After the last treatment, no side effects were observed. At the 13-month follow-up visit, the treated atrophic scars showed satisfying improvement for the patient. Skin texture, relief, color, and overall cosmetic appearance were all rated as improved by three independent dermatologists. No signs of unwanted side effects were observed at any time point. This case report should be followed up with a larger case series or ideally a prospective randomized clinical trial to better establish FP as a safe and effective tool to treat reminiscent scars after CDLE.