NEW TRENDS IN DERMATOLOGICAL LASER THERAP Y - THE FLASHLAMP-PUMPED DYE-LASER

Up to now, three types of continuous-wave lasers have Rear, predominan tly employed for laser therapy in the field of dermatology: the argon laser the neodymium YAG laser and the carbon dioxide laser. The fact t hat these systems often entail damage of surrounding ''healthy'' tissu e structures due to inadequate wavelengths and lengthy pulse durations encouraged the development of new laser systems that can achieve sele ctive photothermolysis or photoacoustic disruption of the target struc tures. Among the new lasers with reduced pulse duration (<500 mu s), t he pulsed dye laser (wavelength 585 nm) for the treatment of vascular indications (e. g. port wine stains, hemangiomas) is now beginning to be generally accepted in Europe for clinical application. In nearly al l diseases indicated for argon laser therapy a better result could be achieved with the pulsed dye laser in less treatment sessions.