Dermatologic surgery: pulsed erbium:YAG laser-assisted autologous epidermal punch grafting in vitiligo.

BACKGROUND: A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pulsed erbium:YAG laser ablation of autologous minipunch grafted sites for the treatment of refractory or stable vitiligo.

METHODS: Thirteen patients, seven men and six women, aged between 19 and 58 years, with Fitzpatrick skin types ranging from type IV to VI, were grafted. The pulsed erbium: YAG laser was used to create recipient graft sites.

RESULTS: Repigmentation was observed in 12 out of 13 patients. Failure of grafts to repigment ranged from 3% to 100%. No untoward side-effects of surgery were noted.

CONCLUSIONS: Using an erbium:YAG laser to create graft recipient sites permits the survival of punch harvested grafts and the spread of pigmentation to the surrounding skin.