title: [Theory of lasers and lamps].
abstract: Lasers emit a coherent and monochromatic light beam, whereas pulsed lights produce a polychromatic light whose bandwidth is selected by adapted filters. The skin's chromophores are made up of water, hemoglobin, and melanin, to which must be added the exogenous pigments of tattoos. Each chromophore has its specific absorption spectrum. Lasers' main mechanisms of action are the photothermal effect and the photomechanical effect.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U 703, Pavillon Vancostenobel, CHRU de Lille, Lille cedex, France. serge.mordon@inserm.fr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mordon
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Michaud
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena