Carbon dioxide(CO2) laser is the most commonly used laser in the treatment of cutaneous disorders of the skin. C% laser emits invisible far-infrared radiation of 10,600nm wavelength. This radiation is totally absorbed in a depth of only 0.1~02mm of water. Cutaneous tissue hasa similar coefficient of absorption since it is 85~90% water. The internal scatter of the laser beam in water is minimal. These two factors, low penetration and minimal scatter, make the CO2 laser a highly localized tissue-destructive modality.
This study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic effect and complication of the CO2 laser on the cutaneous pigmented and vascular lesions. The data of the 110 patients who were treated between October, 1987 and March, 1989 and could be followed up over 3 months at the Department of Dermatology, Ewha Womans University Hospital were analyzed.
Patients were treated with Pfizer Laser System Model 20-C COZ laser. The power ranges were between 2 and IOW using continuous wave according to the size and the shape of the lesions.
The CO2 laser was more effective modality in the treatment of the pigmented lesions, especially lentigenes and solar lentigo than the cutaneous vascular lesions. In the cutaneous vascular lesions, COZ laser was effective for rosacea and senile angioma.
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