Article about: Q-switched laser

“Q-switched lasers are often used to remove tattoos and other skin problems that require high laser intensities. The Q-switched laser is the first clinically tested non-ablative laser and a new generation of these lasers with higher powers and fractional rays has recently been introduced for non-ablative skin renewal and rejuvenation. From a thermal point of view, fractional lasers only change a small volume of the skin, so a complete damage to both the epidermis and the skin compartments is thus prevented. As a result, fractional selective photothermolysis has become a “gold standard” in non-ablative and ablative laser treatments for the treatment of skin problems such as acne scars, surgical, atrophic (small) scars common to acne and after chickenpox) and pigment-less scars, melasma, lentigines (pigment, zone, liver spots), poikiloderma civatte (sun damage) and dyspigmentation. The fractional non-ablative technique uses infrared lasers. The purpose of a fractional non-ablative laser is to create a controlled skin wound without damaging the overlying epidermis, so that all stages of wound healing and skin renewal are under the biological protection of an intact epidermis. long pulse 1,064nm Nd:YAG lasers are non-ablative. We use it as a “clearlift” to improve wrinkles, and mild skin tightening.Short pulse Q-switched 1,064 nm Nd:YAG lasers are often used in applications that require higher laser intensities, such as the tattoo removal. Interestingly, it's the first non-ablative laser that was clinically tested over a century ago to treat rhytides, or wrinkles.”