Pulsed dye laser for the treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars: a systematic review

Keloids and hypertrophic scars affect millions of patients. In spite of the widely accepted clinical efficacy of pulsed dye laser (PDL) in the treatment of these scars, a summary of the evidence comparing the use of PDL with conventional treatment modalities has not yet been undertaken. The objective of this review is to assess the efficacy of 585-nm PDL in the treatment of hypertrophic and keloid scars compared with conventional treatment modalities. This review includes eight randomized controlled trials. Results show that treatment with PDL may be superior to conventional modalities in improving overall scar appearance, but results were comparable when scar parameters were evaluated separately. More parallel comparison trials with standardized methods of treatment and outcome assessment are recommended to evaluate long-term treatment effects and recurrence rates.