Lasers in Vascular Lesions

Abstract

Laser treatment of cutaneous vascular lesions has progressed significantly over the past decades. Lasers and intense pulse light sources (IPL) are based on the principle of selective photothermolysis and can be used for the treatment of many vascular skin lesions. Light devices for vascular lesions include the 532 nm potassium titanyl phosphate laser, 577 to 595 nm pulsed dye laser, intense pulsed light devices, and 800 to 940 nm diode, 755 nm alexandrite and 1,064 nm Nd:YAG lasers. The targeted chromophore for vascular lesions is intravascular oxyhemoglobin. By properly selecting the wavelength which is maximally absorbed by the target and a corresponding pulse duration the target can be preferentially injured without transferring significant amounts of energy to surrounding tissues. Various congenital and acquired lesions can be treated such as hemangiomas, port wine stains, facial telangiectasia and leg veins. Cooling will prevent adverse effects such as pigment alteration and scar formation during therapy. A different number of repeated treatments should be done to achieve complete results of different vascular conditions. This review will discuss the different laser and light-based devices, and provide treatment approach for the management of vascular lesions.