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Laser Light and Light–tissue Interaction

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Technology in Practical Dermatology

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Abstract

After a brief introduction on the principles of operation of a laser, the operating regimes for the lasers of interest to dermatologist are first considered. Laser–tissue interaction and laser-selective photothermolysis are then discussed. Applications of selective photothermolysis to the treatment of vascular disorders and for tattoo removal are lastly considered.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Nd:YAG laser can also operate cw and, accordingly, one can also have a cw-operating KTP laser. This regime, however, is not used in dermatology (although it is used in other specialties of medicine such as, e.g., urology).

  2. 2.

    Absorption coefficient of a fully oxygenated blood vessel, at 1064 nm wavelength, can be estimated from Fig. 10 of ref [8] to be μa ≅ 5 cm−1. This means that, for a 2 mm diameter vein, approximately 63% of the radiation incident on the vein will be absorbed by the blood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Orazio Svelto

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  1. Orazio Svelto
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Correspondence to Orazio Svelto .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dermatology Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuro-Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Michele Fimiani

  2. Dermatology Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuro-Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Pietro Rubegni

  3. Dermatology Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuro-Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Elisa Cinotti

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Svelto, O. (2020). Laser Light and Light–tissue Interaction. In: Fimiani, M., Rubegni, P., Cinotti, E. (eds) Technology in Practical Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45351-0_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45351-0_28

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-45350-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-45351-0

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