308-nm Excimer Laser Research Articles

Targeted 308-nm Excimer Laser A Safe and Effective Solution for Inflammatory Skin Disorders

Background: The 308-nanometer excimer laser is a targeted ultraviolet B (UVB) light therapy that delivers high-intensity UVB rays directly to affected skin. It has shown considerable efficacy in managing various inflammatory skin conditions, including Psoriasis, Vitiligo, Atopic dermatitis (Eczema), Leukoderma, Alopecia Areata, Chronic recalcitrant dermatitis, Lichen planus, Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma (e.g. Mycosis fungoides/ Sezary Syndrome), Parapsoriasis, Pityriasis lichenoides chronica, Pruritus, Urticaria pigmentosa, Superficial mycoses (e.g., dermatophytosis [ringworm]. The patient demographic of some of these conditions (e.g. Vitiligo) tends to skew towards patients with darker skin tones. Results: The excimer laser is particularly effective for treating resistant areas, such as the scalp, palmoplantar psoriasis, and hand and foot dermatitis, which often do not respond well to conventional therapies. It has also demonstrated notable success in promoting repigmentation in facial vitiligo, especially in patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI. Treatment results are typically observed quickly after 5-10 sessions, with sustained improvement and psoriasis clearance evident even at 1-year follow-up. Over the years, access to the Excimer laser procedures has expanded with the availability of these procedures in many private clinics as well as academic facilities. That has increased the availability of the treatment modality and patient choice of therapy. Conclusions: The excimer laser provides a safe, non-invasive treatment option with a strong record of efficacy for multiple inflammatory skin conditions. It is a viable alternative to systemic therapies and can be used either alone or in conjunction with other treatments for optimal patient outcomes.

Efficacy and Safety of Laser Therapy and Phototherapy in Cicatricial and NonCicatricial Alopecia: A Systematic Review Study.

In recent years, the application of various light and laser devices in the treatment of different types of alopecia has been established. This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy and safety of laser therapy and phototherapy in cicatricial and non-cicatricial alopecia. A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Articles were evaluated across four subgroups: alopecia areata, androgenic alopecia, telogen effluvium, and cicatricial alopecia. Included studies were published in English or Persian between January 2010 and September 2023, focusing on interventional, cohort, or case series research that achieved a minimum score of 75% on the EBL checklist. Exclusion criteria encompassed animal and in vitro studies, review articles, case reports, duplicated or irrelevant research, as well as studies that did not meet the designated EBL score. Editorial letters and case studies were also excluded. Initially, 965 records were collected, resulting in the inclusion of 58 studies in the final review: 26 on alopecia areata, 26 on androgenic alopecia, five on cicatricial alopecia, and one on telogen effluvium. Narrow-band ultraviolet B, 308-nm excimer laser, and psoralen ultraviolet A therapy showed varying effectiveness; specifically, the excimer laser was notably effective for patients with shorter disease duration. In androgenic alopecia, erbium-glass and thulium lasers effectively increased hair density but showed a gradual decline posttreatment. Low-level light/laser therapy also increased hair density and diameter and exhibited potential benefits when used alongside minoxidil, but did not significantly enhance outcomes in telogen effluvium treatment. Light/laser therapy can serve as an additive treatment for cicatricial alopecia, particularly lichen planopilaris, but has limited efficacy in treating telogen effluvium. Overall, light/laser therapies exhibit a significant positive effect on increasing hair density and diameter across various alopecia types.

An unusual presentation of childhood lichen planus successfully treated with 308-nm excimer laser.

An unusual presentation of childhood lichen planus successfully treated with 308-nm excimer laser.

Combination of 308-nm excimer laser and piperine promotes melanocyte proliferation, migration, and melanin content production via the miR-328/SFRP1 axis.

Both piperine and a 308-nm excimer laser have significant curative effects on vitiligo. This study mainly explored the molecular mechanism of a 308-nm excimer combined with piperine in regulating melanocyte proliferation. Epidermal melanocytes were cultured in piperine solution, and the cells were irradiated by an XTRAC excimer laser treatment system at 308-nm output monochromatic light. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were for detecting the expression levels of genes or proteins. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Transwell method was for assessing cell viability and migration capacity. The content of melanin was also detected. The combination of the 308-nm excimer laser and piperine enhanced the cell proliferation, migration, and melanin production of melanocytes and upregulated the level of miR-328, and restraint of miR-328 reversed the influence of the 308-nm excimer laser and piperine. Secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) is a direct target gene of miR-328, and miR-328 can inhibit the expression of SFRP1 and elevate the protein level of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The 308-nm excimer laser combined with piperine may be more efficient than piperine alone in the remedy of vitiligo, and the miR-328/SFRP1 and Wnt/β-catenin pathways are participated in the proliferation, migration, and melanin synthesis of melanocytes.

308nm excimer laser and tacrolimus ointment in the treatment of facial vitiligo: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the effects and safety of 308nm excimer laser (308nm EL) and tacrolimus ointment (TO) in the treatment of facial vitiligo (FV). We searched Cochrane Library, PUBMED, EMBASE, CNKI, and WANGFANG from inception to June 1, 2023. Outcomes included overall response rate (ORR), total adverse reaction rate (TARR), recurrence rate at 3-month (RR-3) and recurrence rate at 6-month (RR-6). The outcome data were presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The risk of bias was assessed by Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and data analysis was performed by RevMan 5.4 software. This study included a total of 19 trials involving 2085 patients. When comparing 308nm EL monotherapy with 308nm EL plus TO, significant differences in the ORR (OR = 4.29, 95% CI [2.97, 6.19], I2 = 0%, P < 0.001), RR-3 (OR = 0.18, 95% CI [0.05, 0.69], I2 = 0%, P = 0.01), and RR-6 (OR = 0.38, 95% CI [0.14, 1.03], I2 = 39%, P = 0.06) were found between the two managements. When comparing TO monotherapy with TO plus 308nm EL, its results showed significant differences in the ORR (OR = 4.21, 95% CI [2.90, 6.11], I2 = 0%, P < 0.001), TARR (OR = 0.42, 95% CI [0.22, 0.81], I2 = 4%, P = 0.009), and RR-3 (OR = 0.32, 95% CI [0.01, 8.03], P = 0.49) between the two modalities. The results of this study suggest that the combination of 308nm EL and TO is more effective than either treatment alone for the treatment of FV.

Efficacy and Safety of Combination 308-nm Excimer Laser and Intralesional Corticosteroid versus Intralesional Corticosteroid Monotherapy in the Treatment of Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: A Pilot Study

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a slowly progressive cicatricial alopecia that can result in permanent hair loss, so early diagnosis and treatment is crucial. However and of concern, a standard treatment regimen for FFA has not yet been established. In an attempt to remedy this gap, we conducted this study to investigate the efficacy and safety of combined 308-nm excimer laser with intralesional corticosteroid (ILC) compared to ILC alone to treat FFA. The results of our study revealed that the combination of 308-nm excimer laser and ILC was not superior to ILC alone for treating FFA. Moreover, side effects, including erythema and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, were reported in both groups.

Clinical effect of stem cell transplantation combined with 308-nm excimer laser therapy for 56 cases of vitiligo.

To probe the clinical effect of stem cell transplantation in combination with 308-nm excimer laser therapy for vitiligo and to analyze its value in clinical application. A total of 56 patients with stable non-segmental vitiligo in different parts who were not cured by other therapies visiting our hospital from March 2019 to December 2021 were enrolled as study subjects. They were treated by stem cell transplantation combined with 308-nm excimer laser therapy. The treatment efficacy was observed and analyzed. Among the 56 patients, 38 (67.85%) and 49 (87.5%) patients were cured at 6 and 12 months after treatment, respectively. Stem cell transplantation combined with 308-nm excimer laser therapy for vitiligo achieves significant efficacy, with the cure rate far superior to that of other therapies for vitiligo. The therapy is worthy of popularization in the clinic.

Evaluating the efficacy of Nd:YAG fourth harmonic (266 nm) in comparison with ArF excimer (193 nm) in laser corneal reshaping: ex vivo pilot study

PurposeLaser corneal reshaping is a common eye surgery utilized to overcome many vision disorders. Different UV laser wavelengths can be effective in the treatment. However, the ArF excimer laser (193 nm) is the most commonly used due to its high absorption in the cornea. In the current study, we investigate the efficacy of applying a solid-state laser (Nd:YAG fourth harmonic at 266 nm) for the corneal reshaping procedure. MethodsThe utilized laser is generated using an optical setup based on a BBO nonlinear crystal which converts the Q-switched laser (532 nm) to its fourth harmonic (266 nm). Different pulse energies were applied with the same number of the shoots on ex vivo rabbit corneas, and the histological effect is studied. Moreover, the possible thermal damage on the treated corneal tissues was inspected via electron microscope. Additionally, the DNA damage on the corneal cells due to the application of the proposed laser was examined and compared with the existing technology (ArF Excimer laser at 193 nm) using the comet assay. ResultsThe histological examination revealed an appropriate ablation result with the minimum thermal effect at 1.5 mJ and 2.0 mJ. The overall results show that applying 50-shoots of the 1.5-mJ pulse energy using the proposed 266-nm solid-state laser produces the optimum ablation effect with the minimum thermal damage, and almost the same DNA damage occurred using the commercial 193-nm ArF excimer laser. ConclusionSolid-state laser at 266 nm could be a good alternative to the common 193-nm excimer laser for corneal reshaping procedures.

Meta-analysis of the efficacy of adding platelet-rich plasma to 308-nm excimer laser for patients with vitiligo.

ObjectivePlatelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a novel treatment option for vitiligo. PRP has been reported to be effective in combination with 308-nm excimer laser therapy, but there is no consensus on their combination use. Therefore, this meta-analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of the combination regimen in patients with vitiligo compared with laser therapy alone.MethodsThe meta-analysis was performed by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang to identify relevant publications published through 1 February 2022.ResultsSix studies involving 302 patients were included. Compared with phototherapy alone, combination treatment with PRP and 308-nm excimer laser therapy significantly improved the total response rate and reduced the no response rate. Additionally, the proportions of patients with repigmentation rates of ≥75%, ≥50%, and ≥25% were significantly higher in the combination group than in the monotherapy group. In addition, the rates of adverse events for combination therapy were comparable to those for laser therapy alone, and the recurrence rates were low.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis provided evidence supporting the combined use of PRP and 308-nm excimer laser therapy as a valuable treatment modality for patients with vitiligo based on its superiority to monotherapy.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of 308-nm excimer laser as monotherapy and combination therapy with topical tacrolimus in the treatment of periocular vitiligo.

Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder in which destruction of skin melanocytes. In recent years, 308-nm excimer laser (308-nm EL) and topical tacrolimus have been extensively used to treat vitiligo. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of combined treatment of 308-nm EL and topical tacrolimus for treating periocular vitiligo compared to 308-nm EL monotherapy. This study is a retrospective observational study, involving 58 Chinese patients of periocular vitiligo, divided into two groups: the control group (28 patients) treated with 308-nm EL; and the experimental group (30 patients) treated with 308-nm EL and topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment. Repigmentation was assessed at four grades. In the control group, there were four patients (14%) with poor repigmentation, eleven patients (39%) with moderate repigmentation, ten patients (36%) with good repigmentation, three patients (11%) with excellent repigmentation. In the experimental group, two patients (7%) experienced poor repigmentation, six patients (20%) experienced moderate repigmentation, fifteen patients (50%) experienced good repigmentation, seven patients (23%) experienced excellent repigmentation. The experimental group efficacy rate (good and excellent repigmentation) was 73.3%, higher than 46.4% for the control group (p=0.037). Our findings suggest that both treatments are safe and the combination of tacrolimus and 308-nm EL is more effective than 308-nm EL alone for periocular vitiligo.

Australian experience and practical approach to the 308-nm excimer light therapy in dermatology.

The monochromatic excimer light therapy (308-nm excimer laser and lamp) is used to treat focal dermatoses with inflammation or hypopigmentation. In Australia, despite excimer light therapy being a proven effective treatment for many cutaneous conditions, barriers such as access and affordability provide considerable limitations to patients. This study aims to retrospectively evaluate the different applications of excimer light therapy in treating dermatologic conditions within the Australian setting and provide practical information for its use.

308-nm excimer laser in the treatment of a localized recalcitrant form of perioral dermatitis: Case report

In the last two decades, 308-nm excimer laser has been increasingly recognized as a therapeutic alternative for several dermatological conditions, being currently FDA approved for the treatment of localized vitiligo and moderately severe localized psoriasis unresponsive to topical treatments. We describe the case of a 17-year-old with a recalcitrant form of dermatitis occupying the entire perioral region, previously unresponsive to several treatments, who was treated with 308-nm excimer laser with an excellent result. 308-nm monochromatic excimer laser has several advantages over other types of phototherapy, including lower UV dose exposure, shorter courses of therapy and a better sparing of adjacent tissue. Although infrequently used, 308-nm excimer laser certainly has a vast potential in Dermatology, particularly regarding recalcitrant and localized inflammatory conditions, such as the one we present.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of 308‐nm excimer laser with intralesional corticosteroids for the treatment of alopecia areata: A randomized controlled study

Corticosteroids have been the mainstay of treatment for alopecia areata (AA). Recently, the 308-nm excimer laser has been proposed for treating AA. To compare the efficacy and safety of excimer laser with intralesional corticosteroid (ILCS) in AA. Patients with at least two alopecic patches were randomly assigned to receive weekly excimer laser treatments or monthly injections of ILCS. Photographs and trichoscopy images were examined at baseline, the last treatment session, and after one month of follow-up. The hair regrowth score was evaluated on a 6-point scale. Sixteen patients with 99 alopecic patches completed the study. At the last treatment session, the mean score of hair regrowth for the laser was significantly lower than the ILCS (p = 0.003). However, after a month of follow-up, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.148). Positive response in hair regrowth (≥50%) was achieved in 47% of laser-treated patches and 66% in ILCS-treated ones. Four (25%) and 8 (50%) patients experienced severe adverse events of laser and ILCS, respectively. The excimer laser was safe and effective in AA. The effect of laser on hair regrowth might be delayed as compared with ILCS.

Nd:YAG fourth harmonic (266-nm) generation for corneal reshaping procedure: An ex-vivo experimental study.

Corneal reshaping is a common medical procedure utilized for the correction of different vision disorders relying on the ablation effect of the UV pulsed lasers, especially excimer lasers (ArF) at 193 nm. This wavelength is preferred in such medical procedures since laser radiation at 193 nm exhibits an optimum absorption by corneal tissue. However, it is also significantly absorbed by the water content of the cornea resulting in an unpredictability in the clinical results, as well as the high service and operation cost of the commercial ArF excimer laser device. Consequently, other types of solid-state UV pulsed lasers have been introduced. The present work investigates the ablation effect of solid-state laser at 266 nm in order to be utilized in corneal reshaping procedures. Different number of pulses has been applied to Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) and ex-vivo rabbit cornea to evaluate the ablation effect of the produced laser radiation. PMMA target experienced ellipse-like ablated areas with a conical shape in the depth. The results revealed an almost constant ablation area regardless the number of laser pulses, which indicates the stability of the produced laser beam, whereas the ablation depth increases only with increasing the number of laser pulses. Examination of the ex-vivo cornea showed a significant tissue undulation, minimal thermal damage, and relatively smooth ablation surfaces. Accordingly, the obtained 266-nm laser specifications provide promising alternative to the traditional 193-nm excimer laser in corneal reshaping procedure.

Fabrication of silicone microcups on periodic microswelling structure of silicone rubber by 193-nm ArF excimer laser

A new morphology for micro/nanocontainer, silicone hemispherical microcup on periodic microswelling structure of silicone rubber, was successfully fabricated by a 193-nm ArF excimer laser. The laser-irradiated silicone rubber underneath silica glass microspheres were periodically and photochemically swelled by the photodissociation of Si-O-Si bonds of silicone rubber. A little later, lower molecular weight silicones which were generated by the photodissociation might be ejected from the microswelled silicone rubber during laser irradiation along a curvature of each the microsphere. After removing the microspheres, chemical bonding state of the fabricated microcups was analyzed to be a silicone. Small amount of liquid could be trapped in the microcups under scanning electron microscope. A superhydrophobic property was also obtained on the fabricated silicone microcups.

A randomized, investigator-blinded study to compare the efficacy and tolerance of a 650-microsecond, 1064-nm YAG laser to a 308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of mild-to-moderate psoriasis vulgaris

N/A

High UV Transmission Glass Carriers for Advanced Packaging

Abstract Glass carrier wafers are used in many temporary bonding and debonding applications such as wafer thinning and fan-out wafer level packaging. For light-based debonding, a UV light source is often chosen for one or more of the following reasons: limiting light penetration into the sensitive die area; providing uniform light beam energy distribution; minimizing heat problems; maximizing overall process throughput. Corning has recently developed high UV transmission glass carrier wafers in response to market demand. In this paper, we will discuss the benefits of using such glass wafers for 308nm excimer laser debonding as well as a shorter wavelength UV lamp debonding cases.

A randomized prospective study of different dose regimens using the 308-nm excimer laser in the treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate optimal treatment regimen of 308-nm excimer laser for palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP). 77 patients with PPP were randomly assigned to receive low dose (2-fold of MED as initial dose), medium dose (4-fold of MED as initial dose) and high dose group (6-fold of MED as initial dose) and the MED of each patient depended on the ultraviolet light sensitivity of individual's skin which ranged from 0.1 to 0.25 J/cm2 . All group received 308-nm excimer laser treatment three times weekly for 8 weeks. Clinical evaluation based on the Palmoplantar Pustular Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PP-PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score. All treatment groups achieved satisfied efficacy at the end of the treatment period with more obvious reduction of PP-PASI score in high dose group (16.05 ± 4.26) than low and medium dose group (23.67 ± 7.16, p <0.01; 22.04 ± 5.74, p <0.01). Improvement of DLQI score was greatest at week 4 for all patients in each group, while DLQI improved more quickly in high/medium dose group than low dose group. Adverse effects of erythema, blistering and erosions were more common with the higher dose regimen. High dose of 308-nm excimer laser could achieve a better efficacy in PPP treatment, reduce the severity of the disease in patients and improve the life quality of patients. Meantime, the incidence of adverse reactions should be aware of and it's necessary to evaluate the skin and lesion type before the dose selection.

Study on HfO 2 /SiO 2 high reflective film damage induced by 248nm UV excimer laser

The deep ultraviolet optical thin films play an important role in excimer lasers, deep ultraviolet lithography machine and other laser systems. In this paper, the experiment on damage in HfO2/ SiO2 high reflective film irradiated by 248nm ultraviolet excimer laser was carried out. And the high reflection film is coated with a layer of SiO2 as a protective film. The damage morphology and depth of the samples were observed and analyzed by means of DIC microscope and surface profiler system. In this experiment, the laser-induced damage threshold of HfO2/ SiO2 high reflective film coated with SiO2 protective film was calculated by zero damage probability. Based on the surface characteristics of the damage points, we established the model to analyze the damage mechanism of the high reflectance film by using Finite Element Method(FEM). The experimental results show that the damage threshold of 248nm excimer laser to the highly reflective film is 3.086J/cm2. When the incident laser energy is 3.33J/cm2, stress damage appears on the surface of the highly reflective film. With the increase of laser energy, the high reflective film will appear melting damage and corrugated damage.

Therapeutic management in paediatric alopecia areata: A systematic review

Alopecia areata is the third-most-common cause of dermatology consultations in children but the treatment of pediatric alopecia areata remains challenging. A systematic review of the literature about the treatment of alopecia areata in children (≤ 18 years old) was performed on 11 May 2020 by searching the PubMed, Scopus and EBSCO databases. The terms used for the search were: "alopecia areata", "alopecia totalis" or "alopecia universalis" combined with "pediatric", "children" or "childhood". A total of 89 articles were included in final evaluation. The most commonly assessed treatment options in pediatric alopecia areata were topical immunotherapy (response rate in monotherapy: 54%; 187/345) intralesional glucocorticosteroids (75%; 211/280), systemic glucocorticosteroids (73%; 102/140), and anthralin (42%; 31/74). Topical glucocorticosteroids (81%; 35/43), systemic Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors (90%; 27/30), topical calcineurin inhibitors (42%; 8/19), topical JAK inhibitors (63%; 11/17), PUVA therapy (56%; 9/16) and 308-nm excimer laser (77%; 10/13) were also evaluated. Additionally, evaluation in smaller numbers of pediatric patients included methotrexate (100%; 10/10), topical minoxidil (44%; 4/9) and cyclosporine (83%; 5/6). There were limited data considering children with alopecia areata treated with azathioprine, hydroxychloroquine, topical sildenafil, topical prostaglandin analogues, fractional carbon dioxide laser, leflunomide, mesalazine, apremilast, dupilumab, ustekinumab, efalizumab, botulinum toxin, and compound glycyrrhizin. On the basis of the limited data available glucocorticosteroids (systemic, intralesional or topical) and JAK inhibitors (systemic or topical) may be considered the best documented and most effective treatment options in alopecia areata in children. There are no sufficient pediatric data to compare treatment safety and relapse rates in these therapeutic modalities.