摘要

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the safety, efficacy and recurrence profile of the 532-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG Laser in the management of Benign Lip Melanosis. Introduction: Benign lip melanosis (BLM) is an aesthetically disfiguring condition frequently encountered in dermatological practice in general and north African population in particular as well. BLM gathers a wide range of causes including ethnic lip pigmentation, smoking lip pigmentation, post inflammatory pigmentation, genodermatosis, lentigos. It’s also a challenging condition as there is lack of data considering the management of this multifactorial problem Materials / method: 42 patients (41 females AND 1 male) with focal and diffuse BLM from different etiologies were enrolled in this study from October 2018 to January 2022. Malignant melanosis was ruled out anamnestically, clinically and dermoscopically in all cases. All the patients were treated by the 532-nm Qswitched Laser (fluence 0.3 to 0.95J/cm, pulse duration 20 to 50ns, spot size 4.5 mm) using the sweeping technique. The efficacy and safety was assessed using standardized before and after photos. The duration of follow-up varied from 3 months to 28 months. Treatment interval ranged from 4 to 8 weeks. Results: 19 patients showed excellent results after 2 to 4 sessions with more than 75% clearance of pigmentation, 12 patients showed good results (50% to 75%), 7 cases showed moderate response (25% to 50%) while 4 cases showed mild results or failure (less than 25%). The average number of sessions was 3. Ethnic BLM required more sessions (3 to 8) while lentigos responded faster. Post laser included mild oedema, erythema and mild crusting for 1 to 3 days. No significant side effects were noted with no bruising and no scarring in all cases. Video of the sweeping technique used is exposed. Conclusion: BLM is a common and difficult to treat condition. Topical treatment and chemical peelings are time consuming and often unsatisfactory. Although results may vary in function of severity and causes of BLM, the 532-nm wavelength in a Qswitched mode laser offers in our experience a safe and effective treatment option in the management of BLM with positive and long lasting results and limited side effects including in dark skin phototypes.