Evaluation of the Efficacy of Laser Therapy for Nevus Spilus through Observation under in vivo Reflectance Confocal Microscope

Abstract

A Q-switch laser was applied to an area affected by nevus spilus and changes in the lesion after treatment were compared to its pretreatment condition using in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM). Before laser therapy, the affected area was rich in high density white granules compared to that in intact skin, and these granules were accompanied by a large number of dermal papillae. After laser therapy, the white granules showed decreased density and partially became non-refractive black inorganic areas. There was also an accompanying decrease in dermal papillae. Similar findings were obtained on histopathological examination, thereby confirming the usefulness of RCM as a method of assessing nevus spilus. Skin Research, 9: 521-525, 2010