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Laser Treatment of Pigmented Lesions

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Lasers in Dermatology

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Abstract

The principles of selective photothermolysis can also be applied to the laser treatment of pigmented cutaneous lesions. The target chromophore in pigmented lesions is melanin, which is packaged within cells in melanosomes. These organelles are 0.3-1.0 µm in length. Melanin absorbs light over a broad spectrum from 250 to 1200 nm (Fig. 4.1) so lasers emitting light within this range can be expected to effect cutaneous pigmentation to some degree. However, there are other chromophores competing for light particularly in the visible range, e.g. haemoglobin, and tissue water in the ultraviolet. A therapeutic window of wavelengths exists between 630 and 1100 nm where melanin absorption exceeds haemoglobin absorption and the light penetrates deeply. As the absorption of melanin falls with increasing wavelength higher fluences are required at longer wavelengths of light to effect the same damage to melanosomes as lower fluences at shorter wavelengths. The advantage of longer wavelengths of light is deeper dermal penetration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Princess of Wales Hospital, City Road, Bridgend, CF31 1RQ, UK

    Sean W. Lanigan MD, FRCP, DCH

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  1. Sean W. Lanigan MD, FRCP, DCH
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© 2000 Springer-Verlag London

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Lanigan, S.W. (2000). Laser Treatment of Pigmented Lesions. In: Lasers in Dermatology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0437-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0437-7_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1143-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-0437-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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