The term "laser" originated as an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.” A laser is different from other sources of light in that it emits light coherently1. Spatial coherence provides the advantage as a laser to be focused to a spot, enabling applications such as laser cutting and lithography. Lasers also have high temporal coherence, which allows them to emit light with a very narrow spectrum. They can emit a single colour of light. Temporal coherence can be used to produce pulses of light. Laser has a number of applications. They are used in printers, barcode scanners, optical communication, laser surgery, skin treatment, cutting, welding materials, and laser lighting in entertainment2. When it comes to biomedical applications lasers are used in the tattoo removal, laser surgeries, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic uses, and as an adjuvant therapies in several disorders.
Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)
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Tissues preferentially absorb light at varying wavelengths. Light has dual nature as described in Physics. When it is travelling, it is considered to be continuous wave but when it strikes a tissue or a surface it is considered as particle named as Photon: a pocket of energy2. Laser photons that travel through a given tissue with a high absorption coefficient for its specific wavelength will lose energy through absorption easily. Because these photons are readily absorbed, this light travels much shorter distances than those light wavelengths that are not absorbed. The absorption of photons from initial ray of laser eventually degrades the power of light with distance travelled. Absorption coefficient for the various tissues is lesser at the wavelength of light between 600 to 900 nm, which means better tissue penetration is seen in lasers with these
Here, a laser of specific wavelength is targeted on a particular area of the skin. The light from the laser beam is absorbed by the flawed outer layer of the skin and results in its vaporization. With the removal of the outer layer, the new, healthier underlying skin develops.
Lasers are highly powerful rays of light and they can harm tissue - however, the lasers used in hair removal are specially designed to pass safely through the skin, targeting the pigmented cells at the root cells of the hairs, underneath the surface, without damaging the surrounding tissue and the skin.
The procedure of hair removal is done by beaming highly concentrated light into the follicles of hair. This light is then absorbed by the pigments in the follicles and destroys the hair. This procedure became commercial in the mid 1990’s and before this; it had been performed experimentally for about 20 years. In 1998 the Massachusetts General Hospital published the first article describing laser hair removal. Now a day the usefulness of laser hair treatment is accepted generally in the community of dermatology and is practiced widely in clinics. People even use this method in homes with the help of devices priced and designed for self-treatment. The equipment used for laser is first adjusted according to the thickness, color and location of that particular body part.
During the procedure, you and our trained technician will wear protective eye shields against the laser light. A small area on your skin will be tested to determine the most effective setting for the laser. The laser light passes through the top layers of skin without damaging them and is absorbed only by the tattoo pigment. After each treatment, your tattoo will show significant fading. One your tattoo is removed completely and your skin is clear, you can either leave it that way or have a different tattoo done.
An Excimer Laser is an extremely precise laser that uses ultraviolet light to remove minute amounts of corneal tissue. Each pulse of the laser removes mere microns of tissue, far less
Lasers treatments work by producing heat when interaction with the skin takes place. A quite high beam of light is passed through the skin at the dermal level which makes it quite hot and stimulates the cells which produce elastin& collagen. The laser is also targeted to coloured lesions such as broken blood
Before any session, the patient will need fill out a consultation. This is done because to provide any medical issues that may prevent the doctor from doing the treatment, everyone’s skin is different thus adjustments to the laser are needed. The doctor will evaluate the complexion and the darkness of the melanin, then has to take safety precautions such as special glasses to protect the eyes from the laser, and provide Epidermal cooling to reduce pain and side effects. Two Epidermal cooling strategies are Cryogen spray that is directly sprayed before or after the laser beams onto the skin and Forced Air Cooling on the skin at -34o c. There are five possible machines that may be used; The Ruby Laser, Alexandrite Laser, Diode Laser, Nd:YAG Laser and
Hamblin (2008) states that with low level laser therapy is practiced by physical therapists, dentists, dermatologists and rehabilitation clinics. Research proves LLLT has benefits such as: pain relief, reduction in hematomas and swelling, improved mobility and to treat acute to chronic stages of injuries (Hamblin 2008). However, it does come with its contraindication for example: malignant carcinoma, blood loss, application in the region of reproductive organs/pregnancy, neuropathies, skin disease, pacemaker or epilepsy (Clin 2002). Alena et al (2003) argues that LLLT treatment has an advantageous effect by reducing the inflammatory process, increased amount of collagen and elastic fibres, smooth muscle alpha-actin-phenotype myofibroblasts exhibit to be more significant.
On the birthmark, the laser light is finely focused, which passes harmlessly through the translucent top layers of the skin. This results in heating the underlying blood vessels which have caused the birthmark. When the red colour of the birthmark is treated by laser light, it gets absorbs and released as energy heat. The small vessels under the skin gets break, congeals or cauterizes by the heat, which leaves a lightened colouring.
Though it was significantly used in the 1950s, it has decreased ever since. For instance, Melanoma is treated with Photocoagulation, where it helps in the side effects of radiation [1]. Other diseases such as Small and/or Medium Choroidal Melanoma are primarily treated with Photocoagulation [20]. Angiolytic lasers are used in Photocoagulation and have also been proven to be effective and safe for treatment [3]. From the beginning of this treatment, new techniques and skills have been added to better improve the function. Furthermore, it also helps to prevent retinal detachment and stop dystrophy from further developing; this makes diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and thrombosis (blood clot in the circulatory system) better to treat
Less painful - Laser therapy is not exactly a painful deed. However, before taking you through the procedure, the doctors would apply an anesthetic cream, but that keeps you on the safer side to hold the pain, which may occur due to laser's burning the follicles below your skin. Some patients may experience a mild pain in the treated body part because of the over-sensitivity of their
Attending a laser light show can be beautiful, fun, and maybe even dizzying. The audience may be dazzled by the twisting and turning colors, but how much of the crowd actually knows how lasers operate? Light, color, vision, and the electromagnetic spectrum can explain how lasers and the captivating shows are possible.
Laser skin treatment is a unique form of treatment that can achieve amazing results without the need for any type of surgical procedure. Many of our patients have experienced dramatic results such as the reduction or elimination of sun spots, the brown spots often associated with aging, the removal of scars caused by acne, and many other forms of skin damage. Previously many of these forms of skin damage either could not be repaired or required invasive cosmetic surgery to eliminate.
The penetrating power of the laser is what is utilized to remove the mole by this method. The penetrating power of the laser beam is not strong enough to go much deeper into the skin. As a result of this, moles that are small and flat are removed using this technique. Moles that are bigger cannot be efficiently removed using this technique.In this method, the
This article details the use of lasers as a fat loss tool, which in this case worked on the patients better than usual exercise methods. The researchers provided background information on the use of lasers to treat injury and help with fat loss. They explained that using a laser and exerting a beam of 635nm to 680nm with a 10mW diode. This beam causes no temperature on the surface, it touches, but the adipose tissue under that area developed pores in the fat cells that leaked out the fat, which was picked up by lymphocytes and used in lipectomy and energy use throughout the body. These lasers have also been used to treat injury such as muscle tears and strains. The lasers would vascularize muscles and allow nutrients to enter to further speed up the recovery process.