A prospective study on the treatment of immediate post-operative scar with narrowband intense pulsed light under polarized dermoscopy

(a) To evaluate the efficacy and safety of narrow-band intense-pulsed light (DPL) in immediate post-operative scar. (b) To observe the process of scar formation under dermoscopy in the first 6 months. Nine patients with postoperative scars were enrolled in the randomized, prospective, split-scar study. Patients were treated in one half of the scar with DPL for cosmetic improvement at a wavelength of 500-600 nm and the other half was not treated as control. The laser treatments were initiated 2 weeks after the surgery and were given 3 times over a 4-week period. All patients were followed-up for 3 months from the last treatment. Photographs and dermoscopy digital images were collected each time. (a) Neither DPL or control produce statistically significant improvements in Vancouver Scar Scale. Moreover, comparatively, there was no statistical difference in Vancouver Scar Scale between DPL or control. However, 6 out of 9 patients treated with DPL had reduced scores in vascularity sooner compared with control. (b) Under dermoscopy, redness, and swelling were obvious from 2 weeks after surgery, but were gradually alleviated. The surface of the scar gradually became uneven and rough. DPL might be beneficial in early recovery of immediate post-operative scar.