ABSTRACT
The advent of lasers has revolutionized the field of dermatology. Cutaneous disorders including vascular and pigmented lesions, tattoos, and scars such as hypertrophic and keloidal scars can now be successfully treated. The term laser is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation that succinctly describes its functions. Lasers have transformed the field of cosmetic dermatology in that they provide a treatment modality for cutaneous lesions that were once difficult to manage. Lasers, also for the past 30 years, have been used to improve the treatment of wounds. Low-level laser irradiation has gained acceptance in certain areas of medicine due to its ability to assist in the management of pain, treatment of ulcers especially in diabetics, and various wounds from different etiologies (1,2). There are, however, controversial results obtained to date on lasers and their effects on wounds. Some authors feel that there is truly an acceleration of the healing process, while others have not witnessed any beneficial results. When interpreting the data, it is quite difficult due to the variation in animal and clinical studies, treatment protocols, laser parameters, and culture mediums used. Furthermore, many of the authors who have tried to reproduce similar results have found conflicting findings. However, there is some evidence that may suggest that lasers can improve the wound healing process.
