title: Cutaneous lasers: a review.
abstract: Lasers are versatile instruments capable of treating an ever-increasing array of cutaneous conditions. Various vascular, pigmented, epidermal, and dermal lesions can be selectively destroyed without damaging normal uninvolved skin structures by utilizing lasers that correspond to the absorption characteristics of the intended target. Recently, lasers have been used with much success in the treatment of rhytides, photodamaged skin, and scarring. The rapid development of laser technology has made many lasers obsolete that only a few years ago were considered state of the art. Lasers are more reliable, emit light at higher energies with shorter pulse widths, and at faster delivery rates. As is typically the case with high-technology devices, lasers are becoming less expensive and more consolidated. For this reason, laser techniques will continue to evolve and new indications for their use will, no doubt, be discovered in the near feature. Physicians treating the skin are in a unique position to study the clinical and histological effects of lasers, as the skin remains an easy-access organ. Laser medicine and surgery will continue to be enhanced by the contributions made through the investigative efforts of laser surgeons treating the skin.
authors.affiliation: Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosenbach
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Alster
mesh_terms: D001128:Argon; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006801:Humans; D019339:Port-Wine Stain / Q000601:surgery; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013653:Tattooing; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D001128:Argon