Comparison of long-pulsed Nd: YAG laser with cryotherapy in treatment of acral warts

Abstract

Acral warts are considered as prevalent reasons for dermatologic consultations and remain an important continuing challenge until now because there is no consensus about optimal therapeutic modality. This study investigated the efficacy of long-pulsed Nd: YAG laser therapy and cryotherapy in treatment of acral warts. Patients who underwent treatment with cryotherapy or long-pulsed Nd: YAG laser therapy for symmetrical and bilateral warts on the extremities (hand and foot) that is confirmed by an expert dermatologist from May 2016 until March 2018 were assessed for enrollment in our study. Laser and cryotherapy sessions were applied every 2 weeks for a maximum of six sessions. Patients followed up and evaluated 3 months after the last treatment. Data were analyzed by SPSS (v.21. IBM Inc. IL). The P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. From 60 enrolled patients, 134 lesions were treated using cryotherapy and 114 other lesions treated with laser beam. Thirty-four males (average age 26.85 ± 7.528 years) and 26 females (average age 26.73 ± 5.640 years) participated. Finally, it was a significant reduction in both lesion width (P = 0.000) and length (P = 0.000) after the sessions of cryotherapy. The width and length of lesions is reduced significantly after each session of laser therapy similarly (P = 0.000). Cryotherapy and long-pulsed Nd: YAG laser are effective on the reduction of both width and length of lesions. Clinically, the methods are not different in their ultimate effects.

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