Laser treatment of photodamaged skin

Abstract

The market for skin rejuvenation has grown vastly during the last decade. Many new laser technologies are now available to the practitioner for the treatment of sundamage. Ablative laser techniques, while currently less popular because of associated protracted healing times and greater risk of scarring and pigmentary change, remain the gold standard in the treatment of severe sundamage, rhytides, and dermatoheliosis. Newer nonablative techniques have increased in popularity and are an effective method of skin rejuvenation for mild to moderate sundamage; however, they are of limited benefit in the treatment of more severe sundamage. New fractional photothermolysis laser technology is a promising method of rejuvenation that combines much of the efficacy of the ablative procedures with the convenience and safety of the nonablative laser procedures.