Introduction: Diode laser and intense pulsed light are among the most frequently used technologies for epilation.
Objective: To compare diode laser with intense pulsed light in axillary epilation.
Methods: Patients with phototypes II and III (n = 15) were subjected to 3 regular sessions of intense pulsed light (695 nm) - Quantum HR® Platform (Lumenis,Yokneam, Israel) in the right axilla and diode laser (810 nm) - Light Sheer ® (Lumenis,Yokneam, Israel) in the left axilla. The number of axillary hairs were counted before and after treatment, and patients were administered a questionnaire about adverse effects, pain and satisfaction.
Results: Both techniques provided a similar and significant reduction in hair density.The pain score and degree of inflammation were significantly higher for intense pulsed light (p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively).There was a significant correlation between the fluence employed, the severity of pain, and the degree of inflammation for the two techniques (p < 0.05).The patients considered the final results to be similar, however more side effects were attributed to intense pulsed light.There was no difference in the proportion of preference between the two methods (p = 0.80).
Conclusion: The two techniques produced similar results, but the diode laser caused less pain and fewer side effects compared to intense pulsed light.

Keywords: HAIR REMOVAL, HAIR, LASERS

Introduction: The use of exogenous pigmentation as an adjuvant therapy to Intense Pulsed Light in the treatment of melanoses is routine, nevertheless there is an absence of published comparative studies. Objective: To compare Intense Pulsed Light therapy in isolation, or combined with exogenous pigmentation in the treatment of solar lentigines on the dorsum of the hands. Methods: Twenty women (mean age = 56.5 years) with skin types from I to III, underwent three sessions of Intense Pulsed Light, with a brown makeup pencil pigment reinforcement being applied to the lesions on the right hand. The patients were queried about the degree of discomfort, swelling, crusting, and improvement experienced, their treatment of preference and which they felt provided greater effectiveness, and the incidence of side effects. Results: When assessing all three of the treatment sessions together, the median discomfort score, as well as the degree of inflammation and crusting (p < 0.01), were higher on the right hand. Regarding the subjective impression of the final result, 15 in 20 patients preferred the technique applied on the right hand, considering it more effective (p < 0.01). Eleven in 20 patients reported fewer side effects in the un-pigmented side (p = 0.12). The degree of discomfort did not correlate significantly with the preferred technique (p = 0.67). Conclusions: In this sample, there was a preference for the method with the adjuvant use of exogenous pigmentation, however the incidence of pain and side effects was higher in this group.

Keywords: MELANOSIS, HAND, PIGMENTATION, LIGHT

The present paper describes the case of a 47-year-old female patient, with discoid lupus erythematosus-the most common clinical variant of chronic cutaneous lupus-presenting achromic cicatricial lesions on the face. The punch grafting technique was performed in the following regions: right supraorbital, right malar, and nasal. The donor sites were the left and right retroauricular regions. A repigmentation halo of about 1cm was observed around each graft. This technique has been used in the treatment of refractory vitiligo, however it can also be used in inactive achromic cicatricial lesions of discoid lupus with good results.

Keywords: LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS, DISCOID; SKIN TRANSPLANTATION; AMBULATORY SURGICAL PROCEDURES; SKIN.

Introduction: Melasma is a common acquired hypermelanosis of difficult treatment due to the fact that it is a refractory and recurrent condition. Pycnogenol is a powerful antioxidant that can be effective in the treatment of melasma owing to its protective action against ultraviolet radiation. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of 100 mg/day pycnogenol in the treatment of melasma. Methods: Prospective, randomized, interventional study carried out with 31 patients. The selected participants made use of 100 mg / day pycnogenol and sunscreen for 90 days. They were evaluated regarding the extent of melasma (MASI) and quality of life (MELASQol). Results: Efficacy results showed a significant reduction (p <0.05) in the scores for both scales (MASI and MELASQol). According to the participants' self-evaluation, 94.4% of them showed clinical improvement. Conclusion: 50 mg pycnogenol was shown to be effective in the treatment of melasma after use of 2 tablets / day for 90 days. The results for the MASI and MELASQoL (Melasma Quality of Life Scale) scores were statistically significant. Furthermore, the product was proven to be safe due to the low incidence of side effects.

Keywords: MELANOSIS; CHEMOPREVENTION; ADJUVANTS, PHARMACEUTIC

Introduction: The application of botulinum toxin in the perioral region is a minimally invasive procedure that leads to substantial improvement in the signs of aging in addition to increasing the volume of the lips. However literature on this procedure is still scarce.
Objective: To evaluate changes in shape and volume of the lips, as well as the patients' satisfaction after the application of botulinum toxin in perioral lines.
Methods: Nineteen patients underwent evaluation, photographic record and measurements following the application of botulinum toxin in the perioral region, being subsequently assessed for changes in the lips and satisfaction.
Results: Most of the patients rated their lips as moderately or significantly more attractive after the application of botulinum toxin (p = 0.039). Fifteen women deemed the changes in the lips as a major factor in the overall improvement of their faces.
Conclusions: The use of botulinum toxin in the perioral region leads to the elevation of the upper lip, causing the shortening of the philtrum and the extension of the vermilion. The application of botulinum toxin in the vermilion's border leads to the relaxation of the orbicularis muscle, favoring a more intense tonus effect arising from the upper lip lifting muscles. The patients' satisfaction with the appearance of their lips was evaluated by four additional questions (linked to the lip's shape, volume, attraction and beauty), receiving positive answers. Side effects were minimal.

Keywords: LIP; BOTULINUM TOXINS, TYPE A; BOTULINUM TOXINS

Necrobiosis Lipoidica (NL) is a granulomatous dermatosis, mainly affecting people with diabetes due to collagen degeneration. Although there are different treatments, all have little response. Among the options, the Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and the Laser Erbium-YAG enhance the production and remodeling of the collagen treating the atrophy, besides reducing the erythema by the coagulation of blood vessels. We report a case of a 24-year-old woman with type I Diabetes Mellitus who underwent NL treatment on her left forearm in seven sessions with the association of IPL and 2940 nm Erbium-YAG laser. We observed improvement in central atrophy and erythema.

Keywords: Necrobiosis lipoidica; Diabetes mellitus; Lasers; Laser therapy; Intense pulsed light therapy; Collagen