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IPL Treatment for Vascular Lesions

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Aesthetic Applications of Intense Pulsed Light

Abstract

According to the International Society of the Study of Vascular Anomalies, vascular anomalies can be classified as vascular tumors (origin in the endothelial hyperplasiate and vascular malformations (normal endothelial turnover). Hemangiomas are the most common benign vascular tumors of infancy. Port-wine stains are present in 0.3–0.5% of newborns and are congenital malformations of the superficial dermal capillaries. The vascular lesions that most benefit from IPL treatment are: hemangiomas, PWS, angiomas, telangiectasias, leg veins, rosacea and Poikiloderma of Civatte. Angiofibroma, cutaneous lesions of Kaposi sarcoma, Blue Rubber Nevus syndrome, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasias and stria distensia may also have some benefit. The main chromophores are oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin. Superficial red vascular lesions have a high amount of oxyhemoglobin. The pulse duration should be shorter than the thermal relaxation time of the chromophore to preferentially protect the surrounding tissue from heat damage. The need for multiple treatments should be emphasized to the patient. For deep hemangiomas, IPL treatment alone is not effective. Capillary malformations on the limbs have less response to treatment compared to those on the head and neck.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel

    Dr. Lucian Fodor & Dr. Yehuda Ullmann

  2. Maccabbi Insurance, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Dr. Monica Elman

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  1. Dr. Lucian Fodor
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  2. Dr. Yehuda Ullmann
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  3. Dr. Monica Elman
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Fodor, L., Ullmann, Y., Elman, M. (2011). IPL Treatment for Vascular Lesions. In: Aesthetic Applications of Intense Pulsed Light. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-456-2_8

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