A retrospective analysis of the clinical efficacies of Q-switched Alexandrite and Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers in the treatment of nevus of Ota in Korean patients

Abstract

Background: While the Q-switched Alexandrite laser (QSAL) and the Q-switched neodymium: yttrium–aluminum–garnet (QSNY) laser have been widely used in treating nevus of Ota, few studies compared them.

Objective: To compare the efficacies of the QSAL and the QSNY laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota in Korean patients.

Methods and materials: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted in 76 patients with nevus of Ota. Thirty-one patients were treated with a QSAL (5.5–8.0 J/cm², 4-mm spot size) and 45 patients were treated with QSNY laser (6.0–12.0 J/cm², 2-mm spot size). Treatment outcomes were categorized into five grades and the results were compared with the relevant variables taken into account using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results: QSAL treatment was more likely to achieve a better response compared with that with QSNY laser treatment. The odds ratio of achieving an excellent response, compared with the odds ratio of having a poor response, was 12.213-times more likely when a QSAL was used than when a QSNY laser was used (p = 0.026).

Conclusion: The QSAL tends to be more efficient than the QSNY laser in the treatment of nevus of Ota in Korean patients. Further controlled, prospective comparison studies are needed.

• Nevus of Ota
• Q-switched 755-nm Alexandrite laser
• Q-switched 1064-nm neodymium: yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser

Declaration of interest

The publication of this article was financially supported by Korean Association of Dermatology. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.