Novel use of lasers in cutaneous disorders

Abstract

There have been substantial advances in the use of lasers for skin disorders. The pulsed dye laser is the treatment of choice for vascular lesions and is also efficacious in psoriasis, acne vulgaris, and as a light source for photodynamic therapy. The long-pulsed alexandrite and neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet lasers are effective for epilation even in darker skin types and may be useful for bulky and hypertrophic vascular lesions. The xenon chloride excimer laser has been introduced recently to dermatology and is efficacious for psoriasis and vitiligo. Other disorders, including hand dermatitis, oral lichen planus, alopecia areata and mycosis fungoides also appear to be responsive to this laser. A variety of lasers are used for non ablative rejuvenation, although improvement in appearance of photodamaged skin is modest at best. However, fractional photothermolysis and radiofrequency devices are recently introduced devices that are gaining popularity by facilitating the treatment of photodamage without...