Topical brimonidine-assisted laser treatment for the prevention of therapy-related erythema and hyperpigmentation.

Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) and erythema are the most common adverse effects associated with laser treatment, particularly in dark-skinned individuals. Several methods have been used to prevent or minimize these adverse effects; however, to date, no definitive precautions/strategies are known to prevent post-laser PIH and erythema. We investigated whether the topical application of the α-adrenergic receptor agonist brimonidine could reduce laser treatment-related complications such as erythema and PIH.