Hypertrophic scarring resulting from flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser surgery

Abstract

The flashlamp-pumped tunable dye laser represents a major advancein the treatment of port-wine stains and other vascularmalformations.' Its superiorityoverpreviously available laser therapy (both carbon dioxide and argon) has been clearlydemonstrated,withsignificant or completefadingoflesions, eveninchildren.' Previous experience with the carbon dioxide and argon lasers has demonstrated that, although effective in most instances these lasers have a significantly higher risk of hypertrophic scarring than that reported with the flashlamppumped tunable dye laser.' The flashlamp-pumped tunabledye laserwasdesigned to minimize these and other risks. Its 577 or 585 nm wavelength corresponds to the beta absorption peak of ~xy'hemoglobin, a wavelength at whichmelaninhas only limitedabsorption, In addition,its 450 msecpulseduration is significantly less than the thermal relaxation time