The effect of ruby laser light on cellular proliferation of epidermal cells

In ruby laser-assisted hair removal, microscopic damage is often seen in th e basal epidermal cells, where melanosomes are concentrated. It is not know n whether this treatment leads to cellular hyperproliferation. It was the a im of this study to investigate this, Ten white patients were treated with the Chromes 694-nm Depilation Ruby Laser, and biopsies taken before and aft er treatments to assess the presence of cell hyperproliferation, which norm ally accompanies epidermal damage, with immunohistochemical staining of ker atin 16 and Ki67, No evidence of cell hyperproliferation was seen in all sp ecimens examined after ruby laser irradiation. The authors conclude that de spite the possible microscopic damages seen in the basal epidermis after la ser hair removal, there is no evidence of cellular hyperproliferation. This is in contrast to ultraviolet-irradiated cell damage, in which increased b asal cell turnover is seen.