"Photon recycling" can enhance cutaneous response to lasers: A pilot human study

BACKGROUNDDepending on wavelength and pigmentation, human skin can reflect up to 70% of incident laser light. AIMSWe tested the hypothesis that returning ("recycling") this diffusely reflected light to the site of laser exposure would increase cutaneous response. MATERIALS AND METHODSThirt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Lasers in surgery and medicine 2022, Vol.54 (1), p.152-156
Main Authors: Ross, Edward V, Raythen, Jill, Anderson, R Rox
Format: Report
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:BACKGROUNDDepending on wavelength and pigmentation, human skin can reflect up to 70% of incident laser light. AIMSWe tested the hypothesis that returning ("recycling") this diffusely reflected light to the site of laser exposure would increase cutaneous response. MATERIALS AND METHODSThirteen adult volunteers with Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV participated in this IRB-approved study. Matched contralateral test sites on the volar forearms were exposed to a pulsed dye laser operated at 585 nm, 450 microseconds pulse duration in a uniform 5 mm circular exposure spot without skin cooling. On one arm, the laser handpiece was fitted with an aluminized hemispherical mirror with a reflectance of 67%. The minimum fluence causing skin purpura, and the purpura lesion diameter were measured. RESULTSThe mean purpura threshold fluence with the reflector was 3.1 J/cm2 (0.5 SD), and 3.7 J/cm2 without the reflector (0.36 SD) (p 
ISSN:1096-9101
DOI:10.1002/lsm.23505