Treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae in very dark skin with a long pulse Nd:YAG laser.

Background: Pseudofolliculitis barbae affects some individuals with coarse curly hair. Currently available treatment modalities are often ineffective. In some studies, lasers have been shown to be potentially helpful in mitigating disease severity by reducing the number and/or thickness of hair shafts.

Acne treatment with a 1,450 nm wavelength laser and cryogen spray cooling.

Background And Objectives: A laser with a wavelength in the mid-IR range targeting the depth in skin where sebaceous glands are located in combination with cryogen spray cooling was evaluated for treatment of acne. In this non-ablative treatment, the laser energy heats the dermal volume encompassing sebaceous glands whereas the cold cryogen spray preserves the epidermis from thermal damage.

Study Design/materials And Methods: Monte Carlo simulations and heat transfer calculations were performed to optimize the heating and cooling parameters.