Argon laser treatment

Contents

What is a To be?

The term “LASER” denotes light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. A laser is a device that generates an intense beam of light. Laser light has three special qualities that distinguish it from conventional light source.

Laser light travels parallel in a single direction with very little divergence (collimated).
It consists of one color or wavelength and therefore the laser beam is very pure (monochromatic).
All light waves move parallel in phase together in both time and space (coherent).

Ordinary light from a lamp consists of a mixture of wavelengths radiating in different directions and out of phase.

What is an argon laser?

The argon ion laser emits a specific wavelength (488–514 nm) of blue-green light that is in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. About 80% of the energy is at wavelengths of 488–514 nm.

The excitation medium is ionized argon gas in a sealed laser tube, which is excited by a direct electrical current. download.

How does the argon laser work?

The argon laser, when used for dermatological applications, works on the principle of selective thermolysis.
The selected wavelength of the laser light is highly absorbed by the target structure (called chromophore) compared to the surrounding tissue.
This ensures that the impact of thermal energy is limited to the target structure and does not affect the surrounding tissue.
When laser light hits the skin, it is reflected, transmitted or absorbed.
The absorbed energy is most responsible for the clinical effect because the intended targets convert it into thermal energy (heat) (chromophores), thus destroying diseased cells.
The skin chromophores commonly targeted by the argon laser are hemoglobin, melanin pigment and water.
Complications occur when energy destined for the target chromophore diffuses and is non-selectively absorbed by surrounding tissues and structures.

What is the argon laser used for?

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a range of argon laser machines for various skin disorders. These include The LASOS^® Ar-Ion lasers (LASOS Lasertechnik, Germany) and Modulaser^™(Modulaser, Utah, USA). Individual machines are designed to treat specific skin problems.

The following skin disorders can be treated with argon lasers.

Vascular malformation
Telangiectasia
Angioma
Venous lake
Pyogenic granuloma
Tattoo
Keloid scar
Epidermal nevus
Angiokeratoma
Warty hemangiomas
Xantelasma palpebrum

Argon lasers are approved by the FDA for use in photodynamic therapy to treat actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

Photodynamic therapy uses a combination of light energy and a photosensitizing agent (a medication that is activated by light).
The photosensitizing agent is injected into the blood or applied directly to skin lesions. Pick up more at Cancer cells than in normal cells.
When the laser light is focused directly on tumor, cancer cells absorb the light and a chemical reaction occurs that destroys the cancer cells.
In the case of BCC, the light-sensitizing agent is current 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) or methyl aminolevulinic acid, which is applied topically to the injury.
The medicated area is then activated by argon laser light, which selectively destroys BCCs while causing minimal damage to surrounding normal tissue.

What are the advantages of argon laser therapy?

Lasers are more precise than standard surgical tools (scalpels), so they do less damage to normal tissues.
With laser therapy, surgical procedures are typically shorter and can often be performed on an outpatient basis.
Patients take less time to heal after laser surgery and are less likely to get infections.
Low cost of consumables.

What are the disadvantages of argon laser therapy?

Surgeons must have specialized training before they can do laser therapy, and strict safety precautions must be followed.
Laser therapy is expensive and requires bulky equipment.
Additionally, the effects of laser therapy may not last long, so doctors may have to repeat the treatment for a patient to get the full benefit.

What are the side effects of argon laser treatment?

Side effects of argon laser treatment may include:

Located herpes simplex (cold sores), bacterial wound infection and candida infection
Transient post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
Permanent scars