Long Pulsed Nd: YAG

Long pulsed NdYAG lasers are being used for treating many skin conditions such as:

• Warts/ plantar warts,
• Spider veins,
• Red Cherry spots (or Angiomas),
• Skin tags
• DPN – Dermatosis Papulosis Nigrans (also know as "Morgan Freeman Spots")
• Seborrheic keratosis (senile warts)
• Toe fungus ( Onchymycosis)
• Ingrown hairs or Razor bumps
• Unwanted hair (laser Hair Removal)
• Unwanted veins (Laser Vein Removal)

Laser treatment is based on the principle of photodermal or photomechanical destruction of the target tissue. Target structures (blood vessels and pigmented lesions) absorb the monochromatic coherent light of specific wavelengths and fluence. Light energy gets converted to thermal energy, thus destroying the target structure. Depending on the pulse duration and energy density, this may result in the coagulation or blasting of these structures. When a 1,064-nm long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser is used on the skin, a strong laser pulse is absorbed by red structures or raised pigmented structures such as cutaneous blood vessels or hair, or DPN or senile warts. As a result, the target structures heat up rapidly and burst, or coagulate. Upon blood vessel rupture, purpura appear, which subside 5 to 7 days later. This destruction may obliterate the nutrient supply to the wart or destroy the rapidly dividing epidermal cells that contain HPV.

• For toe fungus, or fungus under the finger nails, tiny pulses of light from the laser pass through the nail to the fungus underneath. The fungus is irradiated without any damage to the surrounding nail or skin.
• For other conditions such as warts the long pulsed Nd: YAG laser heats up the vascular supply of the lesion and thereby cauterizes the lesion.
• For pigmented lesions such as DPN and Senile Warts, the melanin is the chromophore (or target) which is picked up by the laser to treat the lesion.

Depending on the condition treated, the treatment will take 10-20 minutes.

The long pulsed NdYAG laser is a quick and painless way to treat the above skin conditions . Depending on the severity of the skin condition, usually 1 to 2 treatment sessions are needed 4 -8 weeks apart.

Results are not noticeable immediately following treatment. For nail fungus, as your nail grows out, the new nail growth should be clear. Toe nails grow slowly – especially nails infected with fungus. So, it may take 6-12 months for your toenail to clear.

For other conditions , the final result is usually observed after 2 to 4 weeks when the skin has fully healed.

For veins, it may take up to eight weeks to see a result.

Depending on the condition treated , minimal destruction of the surrounding tissue is anticipated with long-pulsed NdYAG lasers. Side effects are generally mild and do not prevent normal activity.

Commonly used methods of physical destruction include surgical excision, electrodesiccation, cryosurgery or carbon dioxide laser therapy. Invasive methods have the drawbacks of pain and long recovery periods.

Chemical destruction can be induced with salicylic acid, cantharidin, formaldehyde, or glutaraldehyde, among other agents. Topical management requires the application of drugs for long durations and treatment success is, therefore, highly dependent on patient compliance.

Use of the long pulsed NdYag is a better method for treating skin conditions as there is minimal pain, shorter recovery periods and less of a risk of scarring.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved the long pulsed NdYAG laser system for all the above mentioned treatment in all skin types, including darker skin phototypes.

The development of long-pulsed NdYAG lasers, such as the Cutera CoolGlide which have longer pulse durations, has increased the scope of laser treatments to include all skin types. Difficult to treat razor bumps or PFB can now be successfully treated in black skins as well..

The Long pulsed NdYAG has revolutionized our ability to permanently reduce hair growth in dark-skinned individuals with black hair. This new laser combines longer wavelengths with longer pulse durations— the time in which skin is exposed to the laser—and cooling devices to bring down the temperature of the skin following treatment. The longer pulse durations allow more energy to be delivered to the skin, and cooling devices help prevent burning. Micro second Nd YAG lasers can be used safely on black skins as well with no downtime at all.