title: Basic laser principles.
abstract: Skin diseases have been treated with lasers since the early 1960s. The three principal chromophores in the skin--hemoglobin, melanin, and water--have different absorption spectra that selectively absorb certain wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. A given wavelength and pulse duration will selectively treat a target containing a chromophore. The wide variety of lasers and their applications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Herd
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Dover
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Arndt
mesh_terms: D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007834:Lasers; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D011874:Radiometry; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena