Q-Switched Lasers for Melasma, Dark
Circles Eyes, and Photorejuvenation
Juliana Neiva, Lilian Mathias Delorenze, and
Maria Claudia Almeida Issa
Abstract
Melasma is a common and persistent disorder
of hyperpigmentation that affects a significant
portion of the population, affecting mainly
women. It is often a therapeutically challeng-
ing disorder. Physical therapies such as chem-
ical peels, dermabrasion, lasers, and intense
pulsed light have also been used with varying
degrees of success and side effects. Dark cir-
cles eyes, also known as periorbital hyperpig-
mentation, are a common condition that occurs
in both sexes with an increasing frequency
in females. Aesthetic treatments include
microdermabrasion, chemical peels, lasers,
radiofrequency, injectable fillers, surgery, fat
transfer, and lightening topical products. Clin-
ical signs of photoaging include coarse skin
texture, irregular pigmentation, and laxity of
skin tone, as well as the appearance of fine
lines and wrinkles. Diverse treatment
J. Neiva
Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD) and American
Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
e-mail: judermo@gmail.com
L.M. Delorenze (*)
Hospital Universitário Antonio Pedro, Universidade
Federal Fluminense – Niterói, RJ, Brazil
e-mail: lili_delo@hotmail.com
M.C.A. Issa
Department of Clinical Medicine – dermatology, Fluminense
Federal University, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
e-mail: dr.mariaissa@gmail.com; maria@mariaissa.com.br
# Springer International Publishing AG 2018
M.C.A. Issa, B. Tamura (eds.), Lasers, Lights and Other Technologies, Clinical Approaches and Procedures in
Cosmetic Dermatology 3, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16799-2_8
modalities have been used to improve skin
wrinkling and laxity, including chemical peel-
ing, soft tissue filler, laser ablation, and facelift
surgery. Lasers have revolutionized the treat-
ment of many dermatological conditions. Dif-
ferent types of lasers can be indicated for
pigmentary disorders. Recently, Q-switched
lasers arose as a successful application in
melasma, dark circles eyes, and photoreju-
venation due to its low fluence, short pulse,
and specific wavelength.
Keywords
Lasers • Q-switched laser • Melasma • Dark
circles eyes • Photorejuvenation
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Q-Switched Lasers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
QS Nd:YAG Laser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
QS Ruby Laser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
QS Alexandrite Laser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Pretreatment Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Melasma and Q-Switched Laser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
QS Nd:YAG Laser x Melasma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
QS Ruby Laser x Melasma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Dark Circles Eyes and Q-Switched Laser . . . . . . . . 136
QS Nd:YAG Laser x Dark Circle Eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
QS RUBY Laser x Dark Circle Eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Photorejuvenation and Q-Switched Laser . . . . . . . . 136
127
128 J. Neiva et al.

Complications and Post-procedure of melanin over oxyhemoglobin (Stratigos et al.

Q-Switched Lasers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 2000). Absorption for melanin decreases as the
Take Home Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 wavelength increases, but a longer wavelength
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
allows deeper skin penetration. Shorter wave-
lengths (<600 nm) damage pigmented cells with
lower energy fluencies, while longer wavelengths
Introduction (>600 nm) penetrate deeper but need more energy
to cause melanosome damage (Arora et al. 2012).
Lasers (light amplification by stimulated emission Besides wavelength, pigment specificity of lasers
of radiation) are sources of high-intensity mono- also depends on pulse width (Chan et al. 2010).
chromatic coherent light that can be used for the These lasers lead to a photoacoustic mechanical
treatment of various dermatologic conditions disruption of melanin caused by rapid thermal
depending on the wavelength, pulse characteris- tissue expansion (Arora et al. 2012).
tics, and fluence of the laser being used and the
nature of the condition being treated (Arora et al.
2012). QS Nd:YAG Laser
Q-switched (QS) lasers deserve special atten-
tion due to its recently uprising application in the The 1,064-nm Q-switched neodymium-doped
treatment of melasma, dark circles eyes, and yttrium aluminum garnet (QS 1,064-nm Nd:
photorejuvenation. YAG) laser is widely used in cosmetic laser der-
matology (Arora et al. 2012; Chan et al. 2010) for
pigmented and vascular lesions, removal of tat-
toos, and unwanted hair (Chan et al. 2010).
Q-Switched Lasers With a wavelength of 1,064 nm, these devices
allow for much deeper energy penetration and
Lasers have demonstrated significant efficacy in minimal melanin absorption compared with QS
the treatment of hyperpigmented disorders by ruby laser or QS alexandrite laser. QS Nd:YAG
selectively destructing pigment cells with a short laser uses a collimated handpiece to deliver a high
pulse and low fluence. The effectiveness of laser peak power over very short pulse durations
treatment for pigmented lesions is based on the (20 ns), maximizing selective photothermolysis
theory of selective photothermolysis introduced of cutaneous melanosomes (Friedmann and
by Anderson and Parrish, which states that when Goldman 2015).
a specific wavelength of energy is delivered over a The 1,064-nm QS Nd:YAG is well absorbed by
period of time shorter than thermal relaxation time melanin, and being a longer wavelength causes
(TRT) of the target chromophore (Arora et al. minimal damage to epidermis and is not absorbed
2012; Anderson et al. 1989; Anderson and Parrish by hemoglobin. The deeper skin penetration is
1983; Jang et al. 2011), heat and injury are also helpful to target dermal melanin. Low-dose
restricted to the target, with less damage to the QS Nd:YAG laser induces sublethal injury to
surrounding tissue (Anderson and Parrish 1983; melanosomes causing fragmentation and rupture
Jang et al. 2011). The thermal relaxation time for of melanin granules into the cytoplasm (Arora
melanosome with 1-μm diameter ranges from et al. 2012; Anderson and Parrish 1983; Lee
50 to 100 ns (Polder et al. 2011). Hence, a laser 2003). This effect is highly selective for melano-
should emit a wavelength that is specific and well somes as this wavelength is well absorbed by
absorbed by the particular chromophore being melanin relative to other structures. There is also
treated. subcellular damage to the upper dermal vascular
A selective window for targeting melanin lies plexus, which is one of the pathogenetic factors in
between 630 and 1,100 nm, where there is good melasma (Kim et al. 2007). The subthreshold
skin penetration and preferential absorption of injury to the surrounding dermis stimulates the
Q-Switched Lasers for Melasma, Dark Circles Eyes, and Photorejuvenation
formation of collagen resulting in brighter and
tighter skin (Schmults et al. 2004).
QS Ruby Laser
The Q-switched ruby laser (QSRL) was the first
laser reported to be highly efficacious for the
treatment of benign epidermal-pigmented lesions
(Park et al. 2008; Taylor and Anderson 1993;
Nelson and Applebaum 1992).
The 694-nm wavelength of QSRLs is moder-
ately absorbed by melanin, yet poorly absorbed by
competing chromophore such as hemoglobin
(Friedmann and Goldman 2015; Taylor and
Anderson 1993). Rapid delivery of high-intensity
energy at this wavelength disrupts melanosomes
within keratinocytes, melanocytes, and
melanophages, making them ideal for pigmented
epidermal and superficial dermal lesions in
Fitzpatrick skin types I–II (Friedmann and
Goldman 2015; Kopera et al. 1997).
QS Alexandrite Laser
The more deeply penetrating 755-nm wavelength
of the Q-switched alexandrite laser (QSAL) has a
lower absorption coefficient for melanin and is
emitted over a longer pulse duration (50–70 ns)
than that of QSRL, which may serve to decrease
adverse events (e.g., postinflammatory hyperpig-
mentation (PIH)) in dark-skinned patients as a
result of gentler melanosomal heating. QSAL
treatments of Fitzpatrick skin types of IV or
lower are typically performed with 3- to 5-mm
spot sizes and 4–8 J/cm2. Lower fluences may
lead to equal efficacy with decreased PIH
(Friedmann and Goldman 2015; Wang and Chen
2012).
A novel QSAL with energy delivered in pico-
seconds (as low as 550 ps) may produce greater
tensile stress on melanosomes than nanosecond
pulse durations, enhancing their photomechanical
and photothermal destruction. Collateral tissue
heating and associated adverse events are mini-
mized owing to the lower fluences required
(Friedmann and Goldman 2015; Dover et al.
129
2012). As a result, potentially all skin types may
be treated with this device. A 3–5-mm spot size
and 1.5–2.83 J/cm2 fixed fluence are favored
(Friedmann and Goldman 2015).
Pretreatment Procedure
A history of keloids, conditions that may impair
wound healing, recent oral retinoid use, preg-
nancy, breastfeeding, photosensitivity, and/or
abnormalities localized to the treatment area
(active infections, malignant lesions, scarring, or
burns) should be ruled out before undertaking any
procedure. Prophylactic antiviral therapy for her-
pes simplex virus is not routinely performed
before QS lasers (Friedmann and Goldman
2015). Topical depigmentation products can be
used pre- and posttreatment (Arora et al. 2012).
All patients should have photographs and writ-
ten informed consent obtained upon arrival (Arora
et al. 2012; Friedmann and Goldman 2015).
Before treatment, the area to be treated should be
washed with a neutral cleanser to remove any
makeup or other impurities. Topical anesthesia is
generally unnecessary given the limited treatment
area, and it is usually bearable (Friedmann and
Goldman 2015).
QS laser treatment of lower eyelid skin within
the borders of the bony orbital rim requires intra-
ocular metal eye shields (Arora et al. 2012).
Melasma and Q-Switched Laser
Melasma is a common and persistent disorder of
hyperpigmentation that affects a significant por-
tion of the population, affecting mainly women
(Werlinger et al. 2007; Park et al. 2011), being
more common in Black, Latin, and Asiatic people
(Kauvar 2012). Patients report that the condition
has a markedly detrimental effect on their quality
of life (Park et al. 2011; Balkrishnan et al. 2003;
Dominguez et al. 2006).
Melasma presents as symmetric, hyperpigm-
ented macules and patches on the face, usually
on the cheeks, bridge of the nose, forehead, chin,
and upper lip (Kauvar 2012; Choi et al. 2010;
130
Grimes 1995; Gupta et al. 2006; Zhou et al. 2011).
Typically it affects more women at reproductive
age with Fitzpatrick type IV–VI, but can also
affect men (Sarkar et al. 2014). The ratio between
affected women and men is of 9:1 (Kauvar 2012).
Although its photogenesis is not fully understood,
pregnancy, sunlight exposure, birth control pills,
hormone therapy, genetic factors, mild ovarian
dysfunction, and autoimmune thyroid disease
may be implicated (Jang et al. 2011; Kauvar
2012; Choi et al. 2010; Gupta et al. 2006; Sarkar
et al. 2014; Lee et al. 2010). Sun exposure can
trigger melasma because it stimulates melano-
cytes to produce increased melanin, and even a
small amount of sun exposure can worsen the
condition. Irritation or inflammation of the skin
can also stimulate melanin production and worsen
melasma (Kauvar 2012; Grimes 1995). In some
cases, it can disappear spontaneously, but in gen-
eral, the condition remains for the rest of the
patient’s life (Zhou et al. 2011).
The most widely accepted classification of
melasma in recent years is based on the patholog-
ical manifestations (Zhou et al. 2011; Rigopoulos
et al. 2007), including the epidermal type without
melanophages in the dermis, the dermal type with
melanophages in the dermis, and the mixed type
in which part of the lesion is of the epidermal type
and part of the dermal type (Kauvar 2012; Zhou
et al. 2011). By Wood’s light (340–400 nm), the
epidermal melasma can be visualized with brown
patches or macules, and the dermal types normally
are not visible except when they are present as
blue or black (Kauvar 2012; Zhou et al. 2011;
Sarkar et al. 2014).
The major clinical feature of melasma is
hyperpigmentation in the form of patches or mac-
ules, but it also has been observed that some
patients have an increased distribution of telan-
giectatic erythema in the macules (Kim et al.
2007).
In the histologic examination, it is possible to
observe that the quantity of melanocytes is not
increased; however, their size gets wider with
more dendrites. They are also more active. The
dermal pigment, when present, will normally
show up at the middle dermis within the
melanophages. These melanophages are usually
J. Neiva et al.
near to small and increased vessels, with few or
no inflammation (Kauvar 2012; Zhou et al.
2011).
It is known that melanocytes respond to angio-
genic factors as they express receptors to vascular
endothelial growing factor (VEGF). Kim et al.
(2007) demonstrated that the area of melasma
has 33,89% more vessels than a near area without
macules and 16,28% of these vessels are thicker. It
is reported that the keratinocytes have an increase
in the VEGF in melasma. The increase of the
density and size of the vessels in the melasma
area is directly related to the increase of the pig-
mentation of the macules. Therefore, treatment of
the vessels in melasma should be important (Kim
et al. 2007).
Melasma is often a therapeutically challenging
disorder to the dermatologists. The most impor-
tant thing to treat melasma is to understand that
there are differences in the activity of the mela-
nocytes between people. Despite of the treatment,
it is very important not to irritate the skin
when using acids. Patients should understand
the importance of treating melasma avoiding
erythema.
Topical treatment melasma can be divided in
two groups: hydroquinone and non-hydroquinone
(kojic acid, azelaic acid, ascorbic acid, or alpha
arbutin). However, these kinds of treatment pro-
vide only temporary results and can also produce
long-term complications (Kauvar 2012; Gupta
et al. 2006; Katsambas and Antoniou 1995;
Jesitus 2014; Polnikorn 2011). Physical therapies
such as chemical peels, dermabrasion, lasers, and
intense pulsed light (IPL) have also been used
with varying degrees of success and side effects
(Park et al. 2011; Kauvar 2012; Katsambas and
Antoniou 1995).
Physical methods are the only option to
remove the melanin and destroy the melano-
somes. Hence the treatment with laser is the
most recommended since 2005, when the use of
fractional laser for the selective photothermolysis
in the treatment of melasma began (Se-Yeong
et al. 2008).
Various lasers that have been used for melasma
include the following (Arora et al. 2012; Goldberg
1997):
Q-Switched Lasers for Melasma, Dark Circles Eyes, and Photorejuvenation
– Green light: flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye
laser (PDL) (510 nm), frequency doubled QS
Nd:YAG (Q-switched neodymium:yttrium
aluminum garnet – 532 nm)
– Red light: QS ruby (694 nm), QS alexandrite
(755 nm)
– Near infrared: QS Nd:YAG (1,064 nm)
The green light lasers do not penetrate as
deeply into the skin as the other two groups
owing to their shorter wavelengths. They are
therefore effective only in the treatment of epider-
mal melasma (Arora et al. 2012).
Since the green wavelength is also well
absorbed by oxyhemoglobin, bruising and pur-
pura may occur following laser irradiation. The
purpura resolves in 1–2 weeks after treatment, and
the clinical lesions lighten in 4–8 weeks. Occa-
sionally, the bruising can lead to
postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Green
light lasers often have a variable response, and
thus test spots may be prudent prior to treating
the whole area (Arora et al. 2012; Goldberg 1997).
Red lasers have longer wavelengths and thus
may penetrate deeper into the dermis. They can
also be used to treat epidermal-pigmented lesions
without bruising, as they are not absorbed by
hemoglobin (Arora et al. 2012; Stratigos et al.
2000). The pulse duration of the QS ruby laser
(QSRL) varies from 20 to 50 ns and that of QS
alexandrite laser (QSAL) from 50 to 100 ns
(Arora et al. 2012).
Near-infrared lasers include QS Nd:YAG laser
(1,064 nm) which has a pulse duration of
10–20 ns. Despite less absorption of this wave-
length by melanin compared with the green and
red light lasers, its advantage lies in its ability to
penetrate more deeply in the skin. In addition, it
may prove to be more useful in the treatment of
lesions in individuals with darker skin tones
(Arora et al. 2012; Goldberg 1997).
QS Nd:YAG Laser x Melasma
There have been several reports of treating
melasma with the QS Nd:YAG laser. The mecha-
nism of clinical improvement is proposed to be
131
due to its ability to induce nonspecific dermal
wound with healing response and subsequent
neocollagenesis (Chan et al. 2010). Mun et al.
(2011) found that the treatment of melasma skin
with this laser resulted in the decreased number of
melanocytic dendrites and altered ultrastructure of
melanosome (Mun et al. 2011).
Its proposal is to describe a selective and more
stable photothermolysis, minimally invasive, to
remove the melanin and melanosomes. It happens
due to the use of low energy during the process
(Kauvar 2012; Mun et al. 2011; Kang et al. 2011).
For the mechanism of photothermolysis to be
efficient, an appropriate wavelength is necessary
(1,064 nm is useful because it reaches the dermis
and epidermis). The same way, the thermal dam-
age of the emitted pulse must be enough to destroy
the melanin. And, at last, the pulse duration must
be as minimal as possible to avoid damages in the
near tissues. The ideal for melasma treatment is to
cause the minimal thermal damage and the highest
photoacoustic damage possible (Mun et al. 2011).
QS Nd:YAG is the most widely used laser for
the treatment of melasma (Arora et al. 2012;
Brown et al. 2011). In general the fluence used is
less than 5 J/cm2, spot size 6 mm, and frequency
of 10 Hz. The number of treatment sessions varies
from 5 to 10 at 1-week intervals (Arora et al.
2012). Zhou et al. (2011) in their studies used
QS Nd:YAG laser at low energy levels (fluence
of 2.5–3.4 J/cm2) weekly for 9 sessions in the
treatment of melasma in 50 patients (Zhou et al.
2011).
Choi et al. (2011) treated melasma lesions in
20 patients older than 30 years with fluence
2.0–3.5 J/cm2, spot size of 6 mm, and a repetition
rate of 10 Hz, in the whole face. The treatment was
performed five times at 1-week intervals (Choi
et al. 2010).
Over the last few years, QS Nd:YAG laser has
increasingly been performed as “laser toning” or
“laser facial” for non-ablative skin rejuvenation
and melasma in Asian countries. In laser toning,
multiple passes of low-fluence laser (e.g.,
1.6–3.5 J/cm2) are delivered through a large spot
size (e.g., 6–8 mm) to optimize energy delivery
(Arora et al. 2012; Chan et al. 2010). With a
clinical endpoint of erythema plus lesional and
132
hair whitening (Chan et al. 2010; Kauvar 2012),
the QS Nd:YAG treatments involve 10, 20, or
more weekly treatments with as many 10–20
laser passes per treatment (Arora et al. 2012;
Chan et al. 2010; Kauvar 2012). For melasma,
laser toning should be considered as a second-
line therapy, since this treatment is unlikely to be
curative and is not without risk (Chan et al. 2010).
Complications from these high cumulative
fluence procedures include pain, urtication,
hyperpigmentation, long-term hypopigmentation
(guttate leukoderma), and rebound of melasma
(Arora et al. 2012; Chan et al. 2010; Kauvar
2012; Kim et al. 2009, 2010).
Some publications try to compare the use of
different types of laser in melasma treatment.
Jalaly et al. (2014) compared low energy
fractioned CO2 laser with QS Nd:YAG
1,064 nm. In each side of the faces of the patients,
one of these two lasers was applied. They were
treated for 3 weeks with five weekly sessions.
Two months after the end of the treatment, the
patients were evaluated, and the side of the face
treated with fractioned CO2 had higher reduction
of MASI (Melasma Area Severity Index) (Jalaly
et al. 2014).
There is no relation between the therapeutic
response between the QS Nd:YAG 1,064 nm and
the severity of the disease or the Fitzpatrick skin
of the patients (Zhou et al. 2011). Some studies
suggest that more epidermal melasma respond
better with topical treatment and intense pulsed
light and that the patients of Fitzpatrick phototype
IV respond better to the treatment in comparison
with those of phototype III. However, as the QS
Nd:YAG 1,064-nm laser reaches the epidermis,
even in dermal lesions, this relation is not
observed during or after the treatment.
In practice, the treatment of melasma consists
of two stages: whitening stage and maintenance
stage.
The whitening of the lesions tends to start
between the fourth and sixth weeks and increases
after each session of the treatment. Xi Zhou et al.
(2011) observed, after the nine sessions, 61.3%
decrease of the MASI using QS Nd:YAG with low
energy. Seventy percent of the patients improved
at least 50% of the lesions and 10% had 100%
J. Neiva et al.
improvement. They concluded that the QS Nd:
YAG 1,064-nm laser with low energy and
wide spot is the new method of choice for
melasma treatment. The response is fast and sat-
isfactory in the whitening of the pigment (Zhou
et al. 2011).
Sim et al. (2014) evaluated the outcome of the
therapy of 50 patients treated with QS Nd:YAG
1,064-nm laser with 8-mm spot and 2,8 J/cm2 of
fluence. The patients were treated weekly for
15 weeks. Both patients and investigators have
reported improvements of 50–74% of the lesions,
what was confirmed by image. None of the
patients had severe adverse effect during the treat-
ment. So, they judged the treatment to be safe and
efficient with this kind of laser (Sim et al. 2014).
Other publications demonstrate that
Q-switched Nd:YAG 1,064-nm laser is safe and
effective in the treatment of melasma. Sun et al.
(2011) evaluated 33 patients and the treatment
consisted of 1 session per week, in a total of
10 sessions. The reduction of MASI and the whit-
ening of the lesions were perceptible from the
seventh week on. The follow-up in the first, sec-
ond, and third month after the end of the therapy
demonstrated that the whitening process still
existed at this period. In this work, no adverse
effect was noticed (Suh et al. 2011).
Jeon et al. (2008) published a work evaluating
the use of Q-switched ND:YAG 1,064-nm laser
with 5-ns pulse in 27 patients. They used a 7-mm
spot and 2–2.5 J/cm2 of fluence in 17 patients and
1.6–2 J/cm2 in other 10 patients. The number of
passes varied from three up to ten until reaching
the light erythema. Two months after the end of
the treatment, 64.7% of the patients had recur-
rences of the lesions, but the intensity of the
pigment was lower than in the initial macules,
and in 29.41% there were no recurrences
(Se-Yeong et al. 2008).
This way, the treatment of melasma during the
stage of whitening should be gradual with one
session per week for 10–12 weeks. It should be
applied the larger spot possible (6–8 mm), with
pulse frequency of 5–10 Hz. The energy should
vary from 0.8 up to 1.8 J/cm2 (400–900 mJ). It
should be applied two to four passes per area until
the erythema lightens with few overlap (10–15%).
Q-Switched Lasers for Melasma, Dark Circles Eyes, and Photorejuvenation
For a better result, the erythema should be as
homogenous as can be.
Some studies demonstrate that the use of
microdermabrasion before the procedure can
help at the response of the laser. The use with
one or two passes over the lesions is
recommended, followed by the application of
QS Nd:YAG 1,064 nm (Kauvar 2012). At the
clinical practice, this kind of procedure seems to
help cases of more laser-resistant melasma, once
the decreasing of the cornea layer would ease the
penetration of laser into the skin.
Alsaad et al. (2014) applied a procedure of
microdermabrasion before the use of the QS Nd:
YAG 1,064-nm laser with 5 ns of pulse, 6-mm
spot, and 1.8–2.0 J/cm2 of fluence in 10 patients,
and in other 17 patients, they used the QS Nd:
YAG 1,064-nm laser with 50 ns of pulse, 5-mm
spot, and 1.6 J/cm2 of fluence, along with the use
of whitening cream at home. The patients were
followed up for 3, 6, and 12 months after the end
of the treatment. The patients who did three or
four treatments had better results than those who
did one or two treatments, all of them maintaining
any kind of whitening until the completion of the
12 months (Alsaad et al. 2014).
After the procedure, it is recommended to chill
the face for 10–15 min with cold mask or with
cold air device. After it, a medium power corticoid
cream and sunscreen lotion should be applied.
The use of corticoids over the lesions can be
recommended for up to 2 days after the session
of laser, mainly in those lesions that seem to be
more instable and reactive to the procedure.
The sessions are usually well tolerated, and the
recurrent adverse effects are erythema that can last
for 1–3 h and prurience. The less frequent effects
are purpura, edema, acne, and decreasing and
whitening of the face hair. Postinflammatory
hypochromic and hypopigmentation-type guttate
leukodermas are described as consequences of the
use of the laser with high energy and multiple
passes.
The reported cases of hyperchromic in some
studies can attack up to 10% of the treated patients
and can occur with few laser sessions, but usually
due to the use of the QS Nd:YAG laser with the
goal of rejuvenation (Chan et al. 2010). In these
133
protocols, more passes or higher energy are
applied so the heat can stimulate the production
of collagen at the dermis. Many times, the pro-
tocols exclude the use of QS; hence, the 1,064-nm
laser begins to have a bigger wavelength (e.g.,
from 5 to 200 ms). In most of the cases, the
hypopigmentation persists.
The recurrence of melasma is defined as the
increasing of the pigmentation or the increasing
of the size of the lesion after the final treatment and
still is a problem to the therapy with QS Nd:YAG
1,064-nm laser. The studies demonstrate that the
recurrence of the lesions tends to occur from 2 to
3 months after the last session and the characteris-
tics of the lesions are the same of the beginning of
the treatment. This return of the pigmentation at
the lesions occurs because the thermal effect over
the melanocytes is reversible as time goes by. This
way, the association of the maintenance therapy is
necessary (Zhou et al. 2011; Se-Yeong et al. 2008).
The maintenance phase can cover QS Nd:YAG
1,064-nm laser and/or topical creams and oral
medication. The eventual use of hydroquinone
during and after the treatment is also described
for the extension of the lightener response of the
laser, avoiding the association with retinoids.
Wattanakrai et al. (2010) carried a study with
patients with dermal or mixed melasma where
they had, beyond the use of QS Nd:YAG
1,064 nm, the daily application of hydroquinone
2% versus the control group with patients that use
only the hydroquinone. The patients treated with
laser had five sessions of treatment using the spot
of 6 mm and 3–3.8 Jcm2 of fluence along with
cold air. After 12 weeks, 92% of the patients that
had association of hydroquinone with laser
obtained a whitening of the macules. On the
other hand, in the other control group, only
19,7% of the patients had improvement of the
lesions (Wattanakrai et al. 2010).
The topical application of arbutin, hydroqui-
none, and vitamin C is convenient and preferred
(Zhou et al. 2011).
In cases that the use of QS Nd:YAG 1,064-nm
laser for maintenance aims to increase the gap
between the sessions, initially each 15 days for
2 months and then one session each 30–60 days,
according to the maintenance of the whitening.
134 J. Neiva et al.

Fig. 1 Melasma: before

and after three sessions
treatment with fractioned
QS Nd:YAG 1,064-nm
laser (0.7 J/cm2 with three
passes, alternating sides,
each 30 days)

Fig. 2 Melasma: before and after two and three sessions of treatment with fractioned QS Nd:YAG 1,064-nm laser
(0.7 J/cm2 with three passes, alternating sides, each 30 days)

The use of the laser for maintenance demonstrated
to be more effective than the use of isolated top-
ical products as the melanocytes tend to stay less
active and smaller in the lesions with the laser.
Melasma is a pigmentary disease of the skin
with many pathological and aggravating factors
involved. This way, a single treatment doesn’t get
to be completely effective. The best treatment is
the combination of therapies, and, among those,
the one that presents the best effectiveness and
safety in the whitening of the lesions today is the
use of low-energy laser Q-switched Nd:YAG
1,064 nm (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4). The association
with whitening creams, microdermoabrasion, and
peelings makes these results even better and
lasting.
QS Ruby Laser x Melasma
The efficacy of QSRL for melasma is still contro-
versial (Arora et al. 2012; Jang et al. 2011). The
mechanism is the same as that of QS Nd:YAG
laser, that is, it causes highly selective destruction
of melanosomes. QS ruby laser, having a wave-
length of 694 nm, is more selective for melanin
than the QS Nd:YAG laser (1,064 nm) (Arora
et al. 2012).
Q-Switched Lasers for Melasma, Dark Circles Eyes, and Photorejuvenation 135

Fig. 3 Melasma: before

and after ten sessions with
collimated QS Nd:YAG
1,064-nm laser (5-ns pulse,
1.1–1.6 J/cm2 of fluence
and 8 mm of spot)
combined with daily topical
vitamin C

Fig. 4 Melasma: before

and after ten sessions with
QS Nd:YAG 1,064-nm
laser (5-ns pulse,
1.1–1.6 J/cm2 of fluence).
Maintenance stage with
vitamin C and daily topical
whitening agents

So theoretically QSRL is expected to be more controversial with studies showing conflicting

effective than QS Nd:YAG for melasma (Arora
et al. 2012), but severe postinflammatory hyperpig-
mentation and hypopigmentation occurred in some
patients within a short period of time (Choi et al.
2010; Hilton et al. 2013), suggesting that the high-
energy mode of QS lasers is likely to be ineffective
for melasma and therefore not a good choice for
therapy for this condition (Zhou et al. 2011; Taylor
and Anderson 1994). The role of QSRL is
results (Arora et al. 2012).
On the other hand, Jang et al. (2011) showed
that the use of multiple treatment sessions of
low-dose fractional QSRL may be an effective
strategy for the treatment of dermal or mixed-
type melasma (Jang et al. 2011).
More studies are needed to establish its
efficacy and safety in melasma (Arora et al.
2012).
136
Dark Circles Eyes and Q-Switched
Laser
Dark circles eyes are also known as the periorbital
hyperpigmentation. It is a common condition that
occurs in both sexes with an increasing frequency
in females (Friedmann and Goldman 2015; Rob-
erts 2014). It can impart a fatigued and less youth-
ful appearance to the face (Friedmann and
Goldman 2015). Globally, skin-of-color patients
are affected more than Caucasians. There is most
likely a familial component as it may be seen in
family members over generations (Roberts 2014).
The formation of dark circles is often multifac-
torial, with a number of factors reported to play a
role. Among these factors are hollowing/
shadowing, dermal melanin deposition,
postinflammatory hyperpigmentation secondary
to atopic or allergic contact dermatitis, prominent
and superficial location of vasculature, and exog-
enous causes (penicillamine-induced periorbital
pigmentation, bimatoprost-induced periorbital
hollowing, and hyperpigmentation) (Friedmann
and Goldman 2015; Freitag and Cestari 2007;
Roh and Chung 2009; Xu et al. 2011). It is impor-
tant for clinicians, as it may be a sign of an
underlying systemic disease, skin disorder, aller-
gic reaction, nutritional deficiency, or sleep dis-
turbance (Friedmann and Goldman 2015; Xu et al.
2011).
Dark circles eyes usually present as bilaterally
symmetric hyperpigmented patches around the
eyes. One eye may be more involved than the
other. It can affect either the upper or lower eyelid
or both upper and lower. It may extend to involve
the glabella and upper nose (Roberts 2014).
Aesthetic treatments include microdermabrasion,
chemical peels, lasers, radiofrequency, injectable
fillers, surgery, fat transfer, hydroquinone, and topi-
cal retinoids (Friedmann and Goldman 2015; Rob-
erts 2014).
Cutaneous melanin has a broad, polychromatic
absorption spectrum that peaks in the UV range
and declines steadily as a function of increasing
wavelength. Although significantly attenuated
past 755 nm, energy absorption is still likely
with wavelengths up to 1,064 nm, allowing for
treatment of deeper pigment and darker
J. Neiva et al.
Fitzpatrick skin types. Given that melanosomes
have thermal relaxation times of less than 1 μs,
ultrashort pulse durations are required to selec-
tively confine photothermal and photoacoustic
effects to these structures (Anderson et al. 1989;
Friedmann and Goldman 2015). Many
Q-switched lasers with nanosecond (and recently
picosecond) pulse durations and wavelengths
within the absorption range of melanin are cur-
rently available. The typical clinical endpoint of
these treatments is immediate lesion whitening
without pinpoint bleeding. Lower energy settings
should be used initially to minimize the occur-
rence of PIH (Friedmann and Goldman 2015).
QS Nd:YAG Laser x Dark Circle Eyes
As demonstrated in treating melasma, repeated
sessions with low-fluence, QS Nd:YAG treatments
can decrease stage IV melanosomes, damage mela-
nocytes, and reduce expression of melanogenesis-
associated proteins. Higher fluences (4–5 J) can be
used with a 3-mm spot size for other types of lower
eyelid hyperpigmentation (Friedmann and
Goldman 2015) (Fig. 5).
QS RUBY Laser x Dark Circle Eyes
QSRL treatment is performed with 2–4 J/cm2
using a 5-mm spot size (or varied accordingly) at
1.5 Hz. The clinical endpoint with this device is
immediate lesion whitening that resolves over
20 min followed by erythema and edema. Com-
bining QSRL with topical hydroquinone and tre-
tinoin before and after treatment has also led to
significant improvement in this location
(Friedmann and Goldman 2015).
Photorejuvenation and Q-Switched
Laser
Clinical signs of photoaging include coarse skin
texture, irregular pigmentation, and laxity of skin
tone, as well as the appearance of fine lines and
wrinkles (Hong et al. 2014; Yaghmai et al. 2010).
Q-Switched Lasers for Melasma, Dark Circles Eyes, and Photorejuvenation
Fig. 5 Dark circle eyes: before and 30 days after four
sessions of treatment with fractioned QS Nd:YAG 1,064-
nm laser (1.2 J/cm2 with ten passes each side at a time, each
30 days)
Diverse treatment modalities have been used to
improve skin wrinkling and laxity, including
chemical peeling, soft tissue filler, laser ablation,
and facelift surgery. Recently, among these
modalities, laser ablation has been highlighted
due to its relatively effectiveness and shorter
recovery time compared to other methods. It is
classified into ablative laser and non-ablative
laser. Generally, ablative lasers are considered
more effective than non-ablative ones in treating
rhytides, but they have a prolonged recovery time
and more chance of complications, such as
postinflammatory hyperpigmentation due to
excessive thermal energy transferred to adjacent
tissue (Hong et al. 2014).
Non-ablative lasers are thought to work
through thermal energy transferred to small ves-
sels and tissues in upper dermis, which stimulate
dermal fibroblasts to induce collagen and elastin
regeneration. Regarding the hypothesis above,
long-pulse Nd:YAG lasers (LPND) have the
advantage of reaching deeply located blood ves-
sels and transferring energy to collagen adjacent
to vessels while bypassing the epidermis. Patients
137
with Fitzpatrick skin type III or more can be
treated using with less risk because the wave-
lengths of the infrared area are weakly attracted
to melanin (Hong et al. 2014). Although the typ-
ical response to this type of treatment is modest
clinical improvement in mild to moderate facial
rhytides, non-ablative therapy has gained in pop-
ularity over the past few years for photoaging
therapy because of its little to no downtime.
Laser systems, which have been traditionally
used for this approach, rely on thermal induction
for tissue change. Introduction of Q-switched
laser systems has added a photoacoustic element
to the dermal response. The Q-switched Nd:YAG
laser has been shown to improve photodamage
changes (Yaghmai et al. 2010; Goldberg and
Silapunt 2001). With this laser system, relatively
lower laser energies are needed resulting in mild
immediate side effects (Yaghmai et al. 2010).
Non-ablative laser therapy remains a very
advantageous therapeutic approach for skin reju-
venation. The potential of inducing beneficial tex-
tural and pigmentary changes to sun-damaged and
aged skin without the need of ablation will result
in dramatically less postoperative undesired
immediate and long-term effects. These
approaches have resulted in collagen production
and subsequent dermal thickening with a reduc-
tion of surface textural changes. In addition, both
pigmentary and erythematous changes can be
improved. All of this with minor immediate post-
operative effects is generally limited to transient
erythema and edema. Long-term undesired effects
such as fibrosis, scarring, or persistent pigmentary
changes have been remarkably diminished rela-
tive to ablative procedures (Yaghmai et al. 2010).
The Q-switched Nd:YAG laser has exhibited
the ability to achieve clinically desirable improve-
ment in many parameters of skin rejuvenation.
Remarkably, this has occurred with a very accept-
able adverse effect profile and, as importantly,
patient tolerance and acceptability (Yaghmai
et al. 2010) (Fig. 6).
The authors have good experience with QS Nd:
YAG laser. Dr. Issa has good results using QS
(Clearlift – Alma Lasers) for melasma (Figs. 1
and 2) and dark circles eyes (Fig. 5). This device
is a fractional (5  5 pixel) QS Nd:YAG 1,064-nm
138
Fig. 6 Photodamaged skin (melanosis solar and wrinkles): before and after three sessions of treatment with fractioned QS
1,064-nm laser
laser with pulse duration of 20 ns, and its fluence
ranges from 500 to 1,200 mJ/p. Regarding
photodamaged skin, the best results are observed
on periocular area (Fig. 6). Dr. Neiva has good
experience using QS Nd:YAG (Spectra-Skintech)
for melasma (Figs. 3 and 4).
Complications and Post-procedure of
Q-Switched Lasers
As low energies are applied, the occurrence of
post-procedure complications is very rare. Usu-
ally, erythema resolves over minutes to few hours
and edema is not observed. The risk of blistering,
PIH, and hypopigmentation is minimum due to
the low energy used at the treatment.
The authors reinforce the importance of using
sunscreen. Lightening creams can be used 24 h
after each session during the treatment.
Take Home Messages
1. Melasma is often a therapeutically challenging
disorder to the dermatologists. The same way,
dark circles treatment and photorejuvenation
are not easy to achieve.
2. Lasers have demonstrated significant efficacy
in the treatment of hyperpigmented disorders,
such as melasma and dark circles by selectively
J. Neiva et al.
destructing pigment cells with a short pulse
and low fluence.
3. Q-switched (QS) lasers, such as QS Nd:YAG,
QS ruby, and QS alexandrite lasers, deserve
special attention due to its recently uprising
application in the treatment of melasma, dark
circles eyes, and photorejuvenation.
4. Although QS lasers present the best effective-
ness and safety in the whitening of the lesions,
combined with other therapies, it can improve
the treatment of melasma, dark circles, and
photorejuvenation.
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