8.  Do lasers help keloids?

Answer:
Many type of lasers have been tried on keloids. The continuous-wave CO2 laser were first reported to give good results by Bailin in 1982. The laser’s beneficial effect was attributed to its nontraumatic and anti-inflammatory properties. Later reports by Norris and then Apfelberg showed that CO2 laser excision failed to suppress their growth and recurrences. The argon laser was thought to work by coagulation of the capillary plexus leading to an area of localized anoxia believed to cause granulocytic lysis and release of collagenase. Studies have failed to show efficacy with the argon laser. No improvement is seen in patients longterm. The neodymium-YAG laser results have been mixed, some reports noting good results but others only with steroid. The mechanism is postulated to be a selective photobiological effect on collagen metatbolism. Finally the 585-nm pulsed dye laser has been shown to result in softening and flattening of scars as well as decreased erythema. The mechanism of improvement in scar texture produced by this vascular-specific laser has been theorized to result from decrease microvascular perfusion altering ratio of collagen metabolism to catabolism, and superheating of collagen fibers dissociates disulfide bonds which are subsequently reorganized in alignment.
 

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