Lasers for psoriasis and hypopigmentation

Abstract

Psoriasis and pigmentary disorders have a profound impact on the quality of life of affected patients. Despite multiple medical therapies for psoriasis, certain clinical scenarios present therapeutic dilemmas. The excimer laser has been found to be efficacious not only for patients suffering from psoriasis but also for several disorders of hypopigmentation including vitiligo, linear scleroderma, pityriasis alba, and chemical, punctate, and post-resurfacing leucoderma. Additionally, due to the excimer laser's reduced cumulative dose and number of treatment sessions, it offers several potential advantages over whole-body phototherapy, including lowered carcinogenicity, phototoxicity, and cost of treatment. This paper considers the variety of applications for the excimer laser on psoriasis and hypopigmentation and reviews its associated indications, contraindications, techniques, adverse events, and future directions.