A case report of Hailey-Hailey disease treated with fractional carbon dioxide laser

Zivile Gabdrafike; Monika Blazeviciute; Ugne Janonyte; Jurgita Makstiene; Skaidra Valiukeviciene

doi:10.4081/dr.2023.9658

A case report of Hailey-Hailey disease treated with fractional carbon dioxide laser

Dermatol Reports. 2023 Apr 21;15(3):9658. doi: 10.4081/dr.2023.9658. eCollection 2023 Sep 12.

Authors

Zivile Gabdrafike^{1

2}, Monika Blazeviciute^{1

2}, Ugne Janonyte¹, Jurgita Makstiene³, Skaidra Valiukeviciene^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medicine Academy, Kaunas.
² Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases, Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kauno Klinikos, Kaunas.
³ Department of Pathology, Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kauno Klinikos, Kaunas, Lithuania.

Abstract

Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD), or familial benign pemphigus, is a rare genetic condition characterized by recurrent blisters and erosions with a predilection for intertriginous areas. There is no specific treatment for HHD. Topical and systemic treatments tend to provide temporary remission. Alternative treatment (surgical interventions such as dermabrasion, excision, and laser) has been shown to prolong remission. Considering the risk of complications associated with surgical modalities, laser is often preferred as an alternative for patients failing to respond to first-line therapies. We report a case of recalcitrant HHD successfully treated with a fractional ablative CO₂ laser procedure (wavelength of 10600 nm, power of 7-10 W, 2-3 passes) on a 35-year-old female. The patient has a 7-year history of therapy-resistant HHD. A 2-month followup showed substantially resolved lesions, with mild erythema and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in treated areas.

Keywords: Hailey-Hailey disease; carbon dioxide laser; familial pemphigus; laser therapy.

Grants and funding

Funding: none.