Lasers in the military for cutaneous disease and wound healing

The clinical laser experience of military dermatologists mirrors that of th eir civilian counterparts; however, there are applications for lasers in de rmatology in which there is special military relevance. These range from tr eatment of common diseases such as pseudofolliculitis barbae to noninvasive identification of shrapnel injuries on the battlefield using novel laser-b ased diagnostic techniques. Although some applications in this report are e xperimental, emerging technologies should allow for their clinical or field implementation in the near future.