Laser Platform Contends with Acne Scarring

An innovative picosecond (ps) laser with a disposable focused energy delivery system can be used for the treatment of acne scars.

The PicoSure ps aesthetic laser system delivers ultra-short 550 ps pulse bursts of energy to the skin, over 100 times shorter than nanosecond technology. The ultra-short photomechanical burst magnifies pressure by 70%, enabling better scarring clearance, with fewer treatments and less fluence (energy delivered per unit area). For acne treatment, a closely packed array of diffractive lenses, called the Focus lens array, harnesses and redistribute each PicoSure pulse, thus exposing less than 10% of the skin to areas of high fluence.

Besides acne treatment, the PicoSure can be used for hair removal, treating vascular and benign pigmented lesions, remove multicolored tattoos, revitalizing the skin, liquefying and removing unwanted fat through laser lipolysis, reducing cellulite, clearing nails infected by toe fungus, and the ablation of sweat glands. The PicoSure picosecond aesthetic laser system is a product of Cynosure (Westford, MA, USA), and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Our Focus lens array microscopically concentrates laser energy on small treatment areas of tissue while stimulating collagen production and remodeling,” said Michael Davin, President and CEO of Cynosure. “With its unique pulse format, we believe Focus technology presents the opportunity for physicians to offer highly customizable treatments for their patients.”

Lasers with pulse widths in the picosecond regime can offer significant advantages over longer pulse lasers, with benefits that include virtually no heat affected zone and dramatically accelerated tattoo pigment fading. And the significantly lower energy fluences needed for the shorter pulse durations also reduces treatment pain.

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