Successful treatment of Dowling-Degos disease with Er:YAG laser

BACKGROUND. Dowling-Degos disease is a rare condition with a genetically determined disturbance of epidermal proliferation. The typical clinical picture is a reticulate pigmentation of the flexures, genital folds, and pectoral skin areas. Many different treatment options have been tried in recent years without a convincing therapeutic benefit. OBJECTIVE. To determine the effectiveness of Er:YAG laser in Dowling-Degos disease. METHODS. A 44-year-old woman suffering from Dowling-Degos disease was treated with the Er:YAG laser pulse energy between 1,000 and 1,200 mJ, three consecutive passes. RESULTS. The laser treatment led to a good clinical result. CONCLUSION. Our case suggest that treatment with the Er:YAG laser might be a successful strategy in Dowling-Degos disease.