CO₂ Laser Treatment of Dermatologic Lesions: Therapeutic Effects in the Cutaneous Pigmented and Vascular Lesions

Carbon dioxide(CO₂) laser is the the most commonly used laser in the treatment of cutaneous disorders of the skin. CO₂ laser emits invisible far-infrared radiation of 10,600nm wavelength. This radiation is totally absorbed in a depth of only 0.1~0.2mm of water. Cutaneous tissue has a similar coffficient of absorption since it is 85~90% water. The internal scatter of the laser beam in water is minimal. These two factors, low penetration and minimal scatter, make the CO₂ laser a highly localized tissue-destructive modality.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic effect and complication of the CO₂ laser on the cutaneous pigmented and vascular lesions. The data of the 110 patients who were treated between October, 1987 and March, 1989 and could be followed up over 3 months at the Department of Dermatology. Ewha Womans University Hospital were analyzed.

Patients were treated with Pfizer Laser System Model 20-C CO₂ laser. The power ranges were between 2 and 10W using continuous wave accrding to the size and the shape of the lesions.

The CO₂ laser was more effective modality in the treatment of the pgmented lesions. especially lentigenes and solar lentigo than cutaneous vascular lesions. In the cutaneous vascular lesions, CO₂ laser was effective for rosacea and senile angioma.