Improvement of Infraorbital Hyperpigmentation following Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many patients who request cutaneous carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing for correction of periorbital rhytides also complain of "dark circles" under their eyes. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted in order to determine the effectiveness of high-energy pulsed CO2 laser treatment in reducing infraorbital hyperpigmentation. RESULTS: Significant lightening of infraorbital hyperpigmentation was observed 9 weeks following CO2 laser resurfacing. Melanin reflectance spectrometry readings did not correlate with clinical findings. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first report of the successful use of a non-pigment-specific laser system for the treatment of infraorbital dark circles. The lack of correlation of melanin spectrometry readings with clinical assessment likely represents an insufficient follow-up time period.