Lasers trigger pigmentation from past gold therapy

Short-pulse lasers triggered chrysiasis more than 30 years after treatment in 2 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

By
Andrea Surnit
September 28, 2026
3 min

MDSpire News

Background

Chrysiasis is a rare condition characterized by blue-gray pigmentation due to gold deposition, often seen in patients with a history of chrysotherapy. The occurrence of laser-induced chrysiasis is particularly uncommon, with fewer than 10 cases reported in the literature. Understanding the implications of past gold therapy is crucial for clinicians when considering laser treatments.

Data Highlights

Patient	Age	Gold Therapy Duration	Laser Treatment	Improvement
1	60	1989-1994	1064-nm Q-switched laser	90% reduction
2	70	36 years prior	1064- and 532-nm picosecond lasers	Moderate improvement

Key Findings

Both patients developed grayish-blue pigmentation after laser treatments.
Histopathologic findings showed dermal metallic deposits consistent with chrysiasis.
Short-pulse laser exposure was associated with the pigmentation changes observed.
A history of chrysotherapy should be considered before laser procedures.