This prospective study compares the efficacy, side effects, and patient acceptance of the flashlamp pulsed dye laser (FPDL) with the argon tunable dye laser with robotized handpiece (ATDL/H) for facial telangiectasias. Seventeen adult patients with bilaterally symmetric facial telangiectasias were enrolled. The right cheek on each patient was treated in one session with the FPDL at a fluence of 6.0-6.75 J/cm2 and a spot size of 5 mm. The left cheek was treated at the same session with the ATDL/H at a power of 1 W, a fluence of 26-27 J/cm2, and a hexagonal treatment area of 13 mm (127 individual 1 mm spots grouped mechanically by the handpiece). Patients were evaluated subjectively and by the investigators at 2, 4, and 6 weeks for blistering, swelling, bruising, changes in pigment, scarring, overall efficacy, and patient preference. Average treatment times were 5.4 minutes for FPDL and 9.4 minutes for ATDL/H. Blistering, crusting, and discomfort were completely resolved on both sides by week 2 in all patients. Bruising occurred in all patients with FPDL but had resolved in 62.5% of patients at 2 weeks and 100% at 4 weeks. There was no bruising with ATDL/H. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation was much more prominent with FPDL but had resolved in 88% of cases by week 6. As rated by the investigators 100% of the FPDL treated areas showed excellent clearing of telangiectasias, compared with 47% of ATDL/H treated areas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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