[Indications for medical lasers in dermatology]

FOUR CATEGORIES OF LASERS ARE USED IN DERMATOLOGY: These are vascular, depigmentation, depilatory or resurfacing or vaporization lasers. Today, there are more potential or suggested indications than good methodological studies that confirm these indications. Nevertheless, there are indisputable indications for these lasers.

They are indicated in the treatment of capillary nevus in adults and children and, with pulsed dye lasers, infants can be treated within the first weeks of life. Another indication for vascular lasers is treatment of Stage II rosacea, i.e., at the stage of telangiectasic erythrosis or couperose. Other indications include radiodermatitis, ulcerated hemangioma and erythrosis of the neck.

Treatment of patients with pale phototype and dark hairs appears possible. However, around 4 to 6 sessions are required to obtain significant lasting hair removal.

The best indications are the removal of tattoos, Ota's nevus and, to a lesser degree, liver spots and Becker's nevus. Melasma and chloasma are not indications or exeresis of nevo-cellular nevi using this technique, since no histological control is possible. PULSED VAPORIZATION LASERS (CO2 OR ERBIUM LASER): They permit dermabrasion in the treatment of verrucous harmatoma, extensive benign superficial dermo-epidermal lesions and the esthetic treatment of non-muscular wrinkles, i.e., excepting wrinkles of the forehead and nasal sulcus. Continuous CO2 lasers destroy small dermo-epidermal lesions. They are particularly indicated for profuse lesions, in which there is a risk of hemorrhage or when direct contact should be avoided because of potential HIV infection.

There are many potential indications, but a consensus has only been reached on those mentioned. The others remain to be confirmed.