Quick Guide to Dermoscopy in Laser and IPL Treatments

This quick guide demonstrates the value of dermoscopy before, during, and after the treatment of a wide variety of vascular and other skin lesions with laser and/or intense pulsed light (IPL). The coverage includes the treatment of benign pigmented pathologies, melanocytic nevi, seborrheic dermatoses, solar lentigines, telangiectasias, flat angiomas, port-wine scars, other vascular pathologies, keloids and hypertrophic scars, acne and post-traumatic scars, and tattoos. Practically oriented information is also supplied on the dermoscopic technique, the principles of use of lasers and IPL in dermatology, laser–tissue interactions, and types of laser. This will help the reader to comprehend the importance of lasers and IPL in clinical practice and provide excellent preparation for the use of dermoscopy to visualize the targets to be hit with laser or IPL. The inclusion of more than 100 color photos stored before, during, and after dermoscopy-aided laser or IPL treatment documents the results that can be achieved even in pathologies that were very difficult to cure until several years ago.    

Preface.- 1 The dermoscopic technique and equipment.- 2 Laser in dermatology: basic principles.- 3 Laser–tissue interaction.- 4 Types of lasers.- 5 Intense pulsed light: basic principles and phototherapy.- 6 Dermoscopy applied to laser and IPL treatments: benign pigmented pathologies. - 7 Dermoscopy applied to laser and IPL treatments: melanocytic nevi.- 8 Dermoscopy applied to laser and IPL treatments: seborrheic dermatoses and solar lentigo.- 9 Dermoscopy and vascular pathologies.- 10 Dermoscopy and telangiectasias.- 11 Dermoscopy in the treatment of flat angiomas and port-wine scars.- 12 Dermoscopy for treating keloids and hypertrophic scars.- 13 Dermoscopy in the treatment of acne and post-traumatic scars.- 14 Dermoscopy in the removal of tattoos.- 15 Conclusions.

After specializing in Dermatology in 1996, Domenico Piccolo has focused his research on pigmented skin lesions, photodynamic therapy, skin surgery and laser applications both in dermatology and aesthetic medicine, becoming a recognized expert in Dermoscopy and teledermoscopy. He collaborated as resident with Prof Peter H Soyer (1997-99 Graz, Austria), is registered practitioner in the UK since 2009 (General Medical Council - GMC) and lecturer at the Medical School, University of L’Aquila, Italy, in collaboration with Prof S. Chimenti and Prof K. Peris. Reviewer and editor of over 90 articles and book chapters, and congress lectures. He is Board member of the International Dermoscopic Society, founding member of the Italian Group of Laser Dermatology (GILD_FTP) and President in charge of the Italian Association of Outpatient Clinic Dermatologists (AIDA).

Dimitra Kostaki was born in Athens, Greece. She qualified in medicine at the University of L’Aquila, Italy, in 2008. During her residency in Dermatology at the same university, chaired by Prof Ketty Peris, she focused on pigmented skin lesions, photodynamic therapy and inflammatory skin disorders. These studies were continued during a fellowship in the Department of Dermatology and Allergology of Ludwing-Maximilian Univesity in Munich, Germany, chaired by Prof. Thomas Ruzicka. After specializing in Dermatology, she continued her research  in the field of inflammatory skin disorders in particular psoriasis at the Dermatology Clinic of the “Sapienza” University of Rome, Italy. Throughout this time she also worked as dermatologist in private practice. She has published severals scientific articles, abstracts, and book chapters, has served as an investigator for many clinical trials, and has participated in many national and international congress presentation. She is a member of several professional societies, including the International Dermoscopic Society, the Italian Group of Laser Dermatology (GILD_FTP)  and the Italian Association of Outpatient Clinic Dermatologists (AIDA). 

Her passion for lasertherapy started in 2013 when she had the great fortune to meet Dr. Domenico Piccolo who was to become her mentor, and with whom she has been working since then.

Giuliana Crisman has focused her research on dermatopathology since 2005, by attending the Department of Dermatology of the Medical University of Graz (Graz, Austria) with a research program on Cutaneous Lymphomas with Prof. Dr. L. Cerroni.  Graduated in medicine in 2006 and post-graduated in Pathology in 2012, with a research project on Splenic Lymphomas realised in collaboration with the Goethe University Frankfurt (Frankfurt am Main, Germany - Prof. Dr. M.L. Hansmann). She has always kept her passion for dermatology alive thanking to Dr. Domenico Piccolo, by co-writing articles and byactively participating in his research projects on several cutaneous diseases at the Skin Center of Avezzano (AQ, Italy). Winner of the "YOUNG PATHOLOGISTS - SIAPEC-IAP AWARD” (National Award - 2011), winner of the recognition for one of the best research and presentation for the work at the "IX International Workshop on Lower Genital Tract Pathology - HPV disease: a Global Battle" (2012), scholarship recipient for IMI (International Melanoma Intergroup - 2015), she has been a reviewer for several medical journals and author of over 60 articles and book chapters, and congress lectures and worked as a dermatopathologist in several Pathology Units.