• See Also
  1. Laser Skin Procedure
  2. Skin Cosmetic Procedure
  3. Laser Hair Reduction
  • Indications
  1. Benign pigmented skin lesions
    1. Solar Lentigines
  2. Benign vascular skin lesions
    1. Telangiectasias
    2. Cherry Angiomas
    3. Poikiloderma of Civatte
  • Mechanism
  1. Selective photothermolysis targets chromophore (light absorbing pigment)
    1. Targets Melanin chromophore in pigmented skin lesions
    2. Targets oxyhemoglobin chromophore in vascular lesions
  • Dosing
  1. Treatment protocols of 2-5 treatments every 2-4 weeks depending on location and specific device
  • Efficacy
  1. Effects can last up to several years
  • Advantages
  1. Localized treatment for only the targeted skin lesion
  • Disadvantages
  1. Burn Injury risk
    1. Laser procedures incorporating internal cooling are the safest options
      1. Laser tip Temperature is maintained a constant cooler Temperature throughout procedure
    2. Expect localized swelling and redness in the first 24 hours
    3. Discomfort may occur with the procedure
  2. Hypopigmentation, Hyperpigmentation and scarring risk (especially in darker skinned patients)
  • References
  1. Ross (2005) Dermatol Surg 31(9 pt 2): 1160-5 [PubMed]
  2. Small (2009) Am Fam Physician 80(11): 1231-8 [PubMed]