Pigment Laser Treatment

Laser treatment of benign pigmented lesions has been studied for over twenty years with various wavelengths.

In order to optimize the efficacy of treatment, three factors need to be considered when treating

epidermal pigmented lesions.

Firstly, the target must be highly absorbed by the laser wavelength used. Melanin is highly absorbed by the 532nm wavelength. Secondly, the depth of the lesions in tissue must correspond to the wavelength. Solar lentigines and ephelides are located very superficially in the epidermal layer. Therefore, these lesions are effectively targeted by shorter wavelengths, such as 532nm. Lastly, the laser energy needs to be delivered in a short pulse with a high peak power because of rapid thermal relaxation by melanosomes. Q-switched technology provides high peak power pulses, which can be delivered in 10 nanoseconds, which is greater than the thermal relaxation of melanosomes.

As a result of combining these features, the Q-switched 532nm laser remains the gold standard for treatment of epidermal pigmented lesions such as lentigos and ephelides.

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