Background: Stasis dermatitis with hyperpigmented skin lesions is a serious health problem for patients with chronic venous hypertension. Although no randomized studies have evaluated lasers for this treatment, lasers can be an attractive option.
Methods: This prospective, randomized, 3-arm, open-label, vehicle-controlled study will enroll patients scheduled to undergo treatment for stasis dermatitis with hyperpigmented skin lesions. Patients will be allocated to either Nd: YAG 1064 nm short pulse laser-nanoseconds (group 1), or Nd: YAG 1064 nm ultra-short-pulse laser-picoseconds (group 2), or cold cream vehicle control (group 3). All treatments are scheduled for 6 visits with pre-defined dates, with a final follow-up visit at intervals of 28 to 35 days. Primary outcomes include colorimetry analysis, secondary outcomes pre- and post-photographic analysis, and DLQI quality-of-life assessment.
Conclusions: The results of this trial will provide high-quality evidence to guide clinical practice on optimal management of hyperpigmented skin lesions secondary to stasis dermatitis.
