Nd:YAG laser treatment of recalcitrant folliculitis decalvans

BACKGROUND. The scarring follicular disorders pose challenging therapeutic dilemmas. OBJECTIVE. Hair removal lasers have recently been shown to be efficacious in the management of these disorders. METHODS. We present a young, Fitzpatrick skin type VI African-American patient with recalcitrant folliculitis decalvans, whom we treated with the neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. RESULTS. A remission of folliculitis decalvans was successfully achieved using the Nd:YAG for laser depilation. CONCLUSION. Based on the optical properties of light in skin, the Nd:YAG laser is the best for laser depilation in dark individuals.