Lasers trigger pigmentation from past gold therapy - Summary - MDSpire
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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

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Objective:

To report on two cases of laser-induced chrysiasis following gold salt therapy for rheumatoid arthritis and evaluate treatment options.

Approach:
  • Patient 1: A 60-year-old woman developed grayish-blue pigmentation after Q-switched laser photorejuvenation following gold salt therapy from 1989 to 1994. She received IPL and TCA peel with 90% pigmentation reduction.
  • Patient 2: A 70-year-old man developed similar pigmentation after picosecond laser treatment, with moderate improvement after IPL and TCA peel but chose to discontinue treatment.
Key Findings:
  • Both patients developed grayish-blue pigmentation after laser treatments decades post gold therapy.
  • Histopathologic findings showed dermal metallic deposits consistent with chrysiasis.
  • Treatment with IPL and TCA peel resulted in significant improvement in pigmentation for one patient.
Limitations:
  • The study is limited by its small sample size of two patients.
  • Variability in treatment response between the two patients limits generalizability.
Sources:

Original Source(s)

Lasers trigger pigmentation from past gold therapy

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • September 28, 2026

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