Comparison of Wound Repair after Irradiation of Rat Skin with 1064 nm Nd:YAG, CO2, and Er:YAG Lasers / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Laser therapy for various skin conditions is one of the most common procedures in dermatology. Recently, several articles described the use of 1064 nm Q-switched NdYAG lasers for the treatment of benign skin lesions. Such treatment is known to trigger its therapeutic effect through a photoacoustic effect and selective photothermolysis effect. However, only a limited number of articles have dealt with the theoretical base of the photoacoustic effect of the 1064 nm Q-switched NdYAG laser. OBJECTIVE: To compare the wound repair process and nonselective tissue heat damage induced by three different laser modalities the CO2 laser, ErYAG laser, and 1064 nm Q-switched NdYAG laser. METHODS: We irradiated the skin of an albino rat (Sprague Dawley(R), 200~250 g) with CO2, ErYAG, and 1064 nm Q-switched NdYAG lasers. Skin biopsy specimens of the irradiated areas were collected on the first, fifth, and tenth day after laser exposure. For histologic analysis, the specimens were stained with the H&E, Verhoff-Van Gieson, and Masson's trichrome protocols. RESULTS: Compared with other laser modalities, rat skin irradiated by the 1064 nm Q-switched NdYAG laser showed the least amount of heat damage and the quickest tissue repair response to the damage. CONCLUSION: A 1064 nm Q-switched NdYAG laser with a photoacoustic effect capable of ablating the epidermis and dermis can be a proper treatment modality for the removal of benign skin lesions. The 1064 nm Q-switched NdYAG laser may be considered as an alternative treatment option for the treatment of benign skin lesions.