The term Poikiloderma refers to the the condition that involves the mottling of sun exposed areas of the skin, most especially the décolleté chest. The skin changes as a result of chronic, long term exposure to the sun, in addition to normal aging. It manifests as redness is created by widened capillaries, as well as dark and light spots. There is often a sharp cut off line at the point where the affected area ends in the neck area. Poikiloderma is often found on the cheeks and neck and may extend onto the chest. In the past, this disorder was believed to be due to a hormonal abnormality and affected only menopausal and post-menopausal women. It is now understood to be a result of chronic sun exposure and damage and affects both men and women.
There are other lasers that can be used to treat some of these types of vascular conditions, but the pulsed dye V-Beam laser is the most useful to use to treat patients with Poikiloderma of Civatte because of its effectiveness and safety. The patient in this photo was treated by Dr. Umar using the VBeam pulse dye laser which treats in the 585 nm wavelength. The patient improved after only 4 treatments delivered by Dr. Umar his Los Angeles California office in Redondo Beach. Overall, the Vbeam pulsed dye laser is a very effective modality that can be used to treat Poikiloderma of Civatte because there is minimal post-operative requirements and produces good results with little risk of adverse effects.
For your Los Angeles laser skin treatments, consult our board certified dermatologist and laser specialist Dr. Umar for your cosmetic skin concerns and to explore your laser treatment options. For more information, please contact FineTouch Dermatology in Los Angeles at (310)318-1500, or visit FineTouch Dermatology.