A summary of the pathophysiology and clinical use of the argon laser in the treatment of cutaneous lesions is presented. The nonionizing blue-green argon laser light is absorbed by pigment, is converted to heat, and selectively destroys specific cutaneous lesions with sparing of adjacent dermal appendages and healing of the laser wound with minimal scarring. Vascular lesions (port wine hemangioma, capillary-cavernous hemangioma, telangiectasia), inflammatory lesions (pyogenic granuloma), nevoid lesions, tattoo lesions, and a variety of miscellaneous lesions have been successfully treated.
It has been proven that intense argon laser light is very useful in the treatment of port-wine hemangiomas and tattoos. However, lasers can successfully treat many other benign cutaneous lesions. This article reports the first use of the argon laser for granuloma faciale and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. In addition, we have also successfully treated venous lakes, senile angiomas, pyogenic granulomas, acne rosacea, and nevus of Ota.
Six patients with xanthelasma palpebrarum of the eyelids have been treated with the CO2 laser and followed for periods varying up to 4 years. Satisfactory cosmetic results were achieved in all patients without significant scarring, and no recurrence has been discovered thus far.
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