24.2.1 Eye Hazards Because of its special optical properties, the human eye is considered to be most vulner­able to laser light. Apart from the oral mucosa, the only living tissue exposed to the envi­ronment is the cornea and conjunctiva. Without the comparative protective features of the stratum corneum of the skin, the eye is exposed […]

24.1 I ntroduction Ocular safety of both laser and intense-pulse light (IPL) devices is always important to protect both the user and patient from potential hazards. Questions also sometimes arise regarding the eye safety of the much lower power Light Emitting Diode (LED) devices. Safety has always been important for any laser application in surgical […]

Attempts to reduce the pain associated with laser treatment include application of topical analgesics [191-196]. In February 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Public Health Advisory regarding the use of skin products containing numbing ingredi­ents for cosmetic procedures causing life-threatening side effects. These included: lido – caine, tetracaine, benzocaine, and prilocaine in […]

As discussed, the predominant adverse effect associated with current laser devices is thermally mediated. It follows that cooling or precooling the skin has been suggested as an approach to reduce tissue damage associated with laser treatment [176], especially where melanin is the primary target chromophore. Precooling can be accomplished in several ways. The design of […]

23.5.1 Selection of Laser Laser-induced dermal adverse events depend on the properties of the laser light and laser-chromophore interactions. Depending on the target chromophore, the wavelengths of light will, in part, determine the depth of penetration and as such, the tissue interaction. In general, the penetration depth in skin increases with wavelength. For example, for […]

It is possible that an exogenously administered drug/cosmetic might potentiate the adverse effects of laser treatment. This could happen in at least two ways: (i) drug/cosmetic absorbs light from the laser, becomes activated resulting in a phototoxicological event; and, (ii) drug/ cosmetic changes the structure/function of the skin. A third possibility falls into the category […]

The most common adverse effects resulting from the interaction between laser light and tattoo ink are burning, scarring, and transient pigmentary changes. These adverse effects are dependent on the laser being used and the kind and depth of the tattoo ink particles. As repeatedly stated, lasers are one of the treatments for tattoo removal. This […]

It is generally recommended that patients avoid getting excessive suntan before their laser treatment [125]. 23.4.4.2 Pigmentary Lesions Pigment-containing lesions on skin can be an indication of the use of a laser or a con­traindication, depending on the desired outcome. If the intent is to remove hair, then the melanin-containing skin lesions such as dysplastic […]

In the dermatological setting, a careful patient history and thoughtful selection of laser includ­ing fluence, wavelength, and treatment frequency can minimize any potential adverse events. Nonetheless, there are several conditions/situations which warrant further consideration. 23.4.4.1 Compromised Skin Common sense applies when using laser or any other device/treatment on compromised or damaged skin. In the case […]