Concurrent Use of a Handheld Forced Cold Air Device Minimizes Patient Discomfort during Fractional Photothermolysis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the analgesic effect of a handheld forced cold air device during fractional photothermolysis. METHODS: Twenty patients who were being treated with full-face fractional photothermolysis were asked to rate their pain level with and without the handheld air-cooling device. Pain was rated on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst. RESULTS: Nineteen of 20 patients noted decreased pain with the addition of handheld cooling. The mean level of pain without air-cooling was 6.95 +/- 2.0. The mean level of discomfort with air cooling was 4.0 +/- 1.8. The mean decrease in pain with the addition of air-cooling was 2.9 +/- 1.8. CONCLUSION: The addition of a handheld forced cold air device to cool the skin before and after fractional photothermolysis treatment is an effective adjunctive analgesic modality.