ABSTRACT
Endre Mester, a Hungarian physician, in the late 1960s, discovered the biological effects of low-power lasers. Mester had obtained an example of the newly invented ruby laser and commenced a series of experiments on the carcinogenic potential of lasers. After the discovery of lasers, there has been tremendous interest in using these devices to treat various medical conditions such as wound healing, nerve regeneration, joint pain relief, stroke recovery, and the prevention and treatment of mucositis. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) operates both on a cellular and a tissue level. Mitochondria are thought to be the principal photoreceptors. LLLT has shown some effectiveness in treating inflammatory skin disorders. A literature review on use of LLLT in lichenoid conditions showed that LLLT is an effective therapy for oral lichen planus where it is an alternative to corticosteroids. Ablative laser devices cause destruction to the surface of the skin to a variable depth.
