Consideration of the UltraPulse carbon dioxide laser as a tool for skin deepithelialization

Laserbrasion is essentially skin deepithelialization. The continuous-wave carbon dioxide (CO2) laser has a long history during which this capability to ablate the epidermis has been used in multiple clinical applications. The "improved" UltraPulse CO2 laser has been advocated as a safer method, primarily for skin resurfacing. The authors show in Sprague-Dawley rats by gross and histological examination that the UltraPulse CO2 laser can also be used effectively to achieve skin deepithelialization, with efficacy in clinical simulations without untoward effects on wound healing. The advantage of the UltraPulse CO2 laser appears to be less destruction to surrounding tissues.