Ablation of Cutaneous Lesions Using an Er:YAG Laser

Khalil A. Khatri, MD, Dermatology, Cambridge, MA

Erbium:YAG laser has been used for laser skin resurfacing for many years. It is an effective device for resurfacing and has a faster recovery time and fewer side effects when compared to the CO2 laser resurfacing1. There are several published studies demonstrating its effectiveness in laser resurfacing. Er:YAG laser has a wavelength of 2.94μm, which is absorbed by water 16 times more than the CO2 laser2. This property makes it an ideal tool for tissue ablation. Each pass of Er:YAG laser removes a thin layer of skin and the depth of ablation can be controlled by altering the effective fluence. Er:YAG laser has been used for indications other than resurfacing for wrinkle and acne scars3,4,5,6,7. Epidermal lesion can be removed without damaging the dermis, minimizing the risk of scarring. Er:YAG laser can be used to ablate/remove many benign, pre-malignant and malignant cutaneous lesions. It can be used to remove/treat Seborrheic Keratosis, Actinic Keratosis, Lentigines, Epidermal Nevus, Benign Nevi, Xanthelasma, Syringomas, Sebaceous Hyperplasia, Warts, Melasma, Milia, Acrochordons, Dermatosis Papilosa Nigra, Hypertrophic Scars, Rhinophyma, Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Situ (Bowen’s Disease), etc. The data presented in this poster was collected to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of erbium:YAG laser in removing cutaneous lesions.