RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Laser treatment for skin problems
JF Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
JO Drug Ther Bull
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 73
OP 76
DO 10.1136/dtb.2004.421073
VO 42
IS 10
YR 2004
UL http://dtb.bmj.com/content/42/10/73.abstract
AB Lasers and related 'intense pulsed light' (IPL) devices are increasingly being used to treat people with skin conditions in NHS dermatology and plastic surgery units, private hospitals and clinics, and cosmetic salons. Typical targets for such treatments include conditions involving excessive blood vessels (e.g. port-wine stains), pigment (e.g. tattoos), inflammatory lesions (e.g. psoriasis), scars, excess hair, tumours and wrinkles.1 This broad and expanding range of uses raises questions about the effectiveness, safety and appropriateness of laser and IPL treatment. Here we consider these and other key issues in the use of these techniques to treat patients with skin problems.