Treatment of normochromic lesions through iatrogenic staining increasing the lesion absorption. (O. Marangoni MD, 1999)
The staining with exogenous chromophores, which modify the tissue thermokinesis, "outwits" the wavelength of different wavelength diode lasers, thus allowing a precise and selective photocoagulation of pigmented and superficial normochromic lesions with significant reduction of the fluencies used.. The mandatory pulsed emission restricts the thermolysis to what had been artificially pigmented.
Any shift from the edges of the beam, due to involuntary movements of the surgeon or unexpected movements of anxious patients or children, does not adversely affect the surrounding healthy tissue, if it is well cooled.
Pale and untanned skin (phototype 1-4) is particularly transparent to I.R. laser radiation.
The advantage is the absence of any form of pain and the localized photothermal destruction of that which has been artificially pigmented.
There are many “exogenous” chromophores that are used as staining agents to vary the tissue thermokinesis, with increased lesion absorption.
Lentigo - Courtesy of L. Scrimali MD
Poikiloderma of civatte - Courtesy of A. Agolzer, MD
Senile keratosis - Courtesy of L. Scrimali, MD