Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology 2013-10-01

Comparative study on bruise reduction treatments after bruise induction using the pulsed dye laser.

Tiffany T Mayo, Farhan Khan, Christine Hunt, Kristy Fleming, Ramsey Markus

Index: Dermatol. Surg. 39(10) , 1459-64, (2013)

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Abstract

Several bruise reduction methods have been suggested to decrease postprocedure ecchymoses. Comparing the effectiveness of common bruise reduction therapies provides better evidence of the efficacy of bruise reduction techniques.To compare the effectiveness of cold compresses, hydrogen peroxide, over-the-counter bruise serum, and pulsed dye laser (PDL) in minimizing the time required for bruise resolution.Seventeen patients aged 22 to 51 (mean 28) with Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV underwent bruise induction with a PDL to produce five 2- by 2-cm zones of bruising on the lower abdomen. Excluding the control, bruises were randomly treated using a cold compress, bruise serum, 3% hydrogen peroxide-soaked gauze, or PDL. Subjects and two blinded physician evaluators evaluated bruise severity and graded it on a visual analog scale on days 0, 3, and 7.Treatment did not result in statistically significantly shorter bruise resolution time than in controls. PDL-treated bruises took a statistically significantly longer time to resolve than controls.Our study showed no significant difference in cold compress, hydrogen peroxide, and over-the-counter serum in reducing time to bruise resolution. PDL therapy resulted in greater bruise severity scores and increased time to bruise resolution when used soon after bruise induction.© 2013 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.