A neonate with a giant congenital naevus: new treatment option with the erbium:YAG laser

Efficacy and Safety of Short-Pulse Erbium:YAG Laser in the Treatment of Acquired Melanocytic Nevi

“…Three types of erbium:YAG lasers (short pulse, variable pulse, and dual mode) are now being used successfuly to treat a variety of epidermal and dermal lesions 9–13,19,20 . The variable pulse erbium:YAG laser has short pulses for ablation and long pulses for thermal damage.…”

“…Three types of erbium:YAG lasers (short pulse, variable pulse, and dual mode) are now being used successfuly to treat a variety of epidermal and dermal lesions. [9][10][11][12][13]19,20 The variable pulse erbium:YAG laser has short pulses for ablation and long pulses for thermal damage. Dual-mode erbium:YAG laser has short, ablative pulses of high fluence and coagulative long pulses of low fluence.…”

“…Therefore, there is far less thermal damage to subjacent structures than with a CO 2 laser, resulting in a decreased recovery period and fewer adverse effects (e.g., scarring and pigmentary changes). Although several successful results have been reported with short‐pulse Er:YAG laser in the treatment of congenital nevus and benign skin disorders, no study to date has specifically investigated the efficacy of this laser in the treatment of acquired melanocytic nevi 9–13 . The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of the short‐pulse erbium:YAG laser in the treatment of acquired melanocytic nevi.…”

“…Although several successful results have been reported with short-pulse Er:YAG laser in the treatment of congenital nevus and benign skin disorders, no study to date has specifically investigated the efficacy of this laser in the treatment of acquired melanocytic nevi. [9][10][11][12][13] The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of the short-pulse erbium:YAG laser in the treatment of acquired melanocytic nevi.…”

Pseudomelanoma following laser therapy

“…The CO 2 and erbium:YAG lasers function as tissue vaporizers, resulting in nonspecific tissue destruction. The erbium:YAG laser has a higher absorption coefficient for water and a lower optical penetration depth than the CO 2 laser, resulting in a shorter re‐epithelialization time and a shorter duration of erythema 2 . Melanin‐targeting lasers, including the Q‐switched ruby, alexandrite, and Nd–YAG lasers, can eliminate superficial melanocytes and reach dermal melanin at various depths 1,9 .…”