Laser therapies for the treatment of necrobiosis lipoidica: literature review and own experience

Abstract

Necrobiosis lipoidica is a rare, chronic skin disease of vascular-exchange character from the group of localised skin lipoidosis, characterised by collagen degeneration. The main methods of treatment of this dermatosis do not always have a positive effect and do not lead to long-term remission. In this regard, in recent years, new methods of the treatment for necrobiosis lipoidica have appeared, in particular laser treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of laser therapy for necrobiosis lipoidica, as well as to report on our own experience of using IPL therapy for necrobiosis lipoidica. A review of scientific publications on the topic over the past 5 years on platforms such as PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted. Laser treatments used in the selected studies included CO2 laser, dye laser and broadband intense pulsed light radiation (IPL therapy). Publications that used combined treatments were excluded. The description of our own experience of using intense pulsed light for the treatment of necrobiosis lipoidica in four patients with a positive effect in the form of reduction of telangiectasias, discoloration and flattening of the peripheral boundaries is presented. In connection with the increasing interest to laser methods of therapy of various dermatoses, we consider it important to study and apply them in the treatment of necrobiosis lipoidica, which may help to develop a new approach to the treatment of necrobiosis lipoidica.