Increased radiant exposures during cutaneous laser therapy: a mathematical model based on histology

Abstract

Increasing radiant exposures offer a means to increase laser treatment efficacy of cutaneous hypervascular malformations; however, excessive radiant exposure results in increased heat generation within the epidermis and collateral damage to perivascular tissue. Cryogen spray cooling (CSC) has been used to cool the skin surface during laser therapy. The purpose of this study was to develop a mathematical model of laser irradiated tissue to study the effects of laser heating of melanin in conjunction with CSC. Model predictions show that CSC can protect perivascular tissue as well as the epidermis in light to moderately pigmented skin; however, current CSC protocols are not effective in preventing epidermal injury in dark skin.