Leg telangiectasia removal with Infra Red laser

Leg telangiectasia with Infra Red laser

Multiple diode lasers are now available, and different systems can emit infrared light at a variety of wavelengths, including 810, 940, and 980 nm. All of these devices are capable of being absorbed by the tertiary hemoglobin peak and can be effective in treating leg telangiectasia. The longer diode laser wavelengths penetrate more deeply than yellow light and are poorly absorbed by melanin, but they also have limited but significant hemoglobin absorption. For that reason, the 980nm diode laser can be safely used in patients with skin types I to IV skin. The 810nm pulsed diode used with a fluence of 80 to 100 J/cm2, a 12-mm spot size, and a 60-ms pulse duration demonstrated complete clearance of leg vessels in 15 of 35 patients after a single treatment, although at 6-month follow-up, only six patients maintained complete resolution of vessels.

The 940nm diode laser had no effect when used to treat small blood vessels but was capable of improving larger visible leg veins of 0.8 to 1.4mm in 88% of patients in one study. Twelve of 26 patients treated with the 940nm diode laser at fluences of 300 to 350 J/cm2, 40- to 70-ms pulse durations, and a 1-mm handpiece demonstrated greater than 75% clearance after 4 weeks. A study of 20 patients treated with a single pass of the 940nm diode laser at 300 to 350 J/cm2, 40 to 70-ms pulse duration, and a 1-mm spot achieved greater than 75% clearance of treated blood vessels in 75% of patients at 12 months of follow-up.

A study of the 980nm diode used to treat blue leg telangiectases achieved greater than 50% clearance of treated blood vessels in five of 10 patients. One patient developed post-treatment hypopigmentation, and one developed telangiectatic matting. By combining 980-nm diode pulses with radiofrequency current, lower fluences of 60 J/cm2 could be used for effective vessel clearance (50% of patients achieved greater than 75% clearance rate at 6 months), which may decrease the side-effect profile. Biopsies showed contracted vessels with hyalinization, suggesting that the combined diode and radiofrequency current therapy is an effective treatment for leg veins. Combining the 915nm diode with radiofrequency current demonstrated greater than 50% vessel clearance in 75% of patients.