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Laser effects on skin

Benm

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As far as I know, 445nm is not a short enough wavelength to be carcinogenic.
That is not to say that it is impossible for it to cause melanoma.
IIRC, the wavelength must be <390nm for it to be considered potentially carcinogenic. You will have a hard time giving anybody cancer even with a 405nm laser.

Exposing your skin to intense laser light is not a good idea regardless of the wavelength.
The result is obviously a thermal burn and pain. It's a no-brainer.

There is no exact line between what wavelength is carcinogenic and what one isnt - the intensity and duration of exposure are also factors there. If given the choice it'd rather be bombarded with 1 uW/cm2 of 390 than 1 watt/cm2 of 405, or even 445 for that matter.

One thing to consider is just avoiding the risks here - don't experiment on yourself. It's not likely, but you'll never forgive yourself if in a few decades a melanoma develops on that hand, and spreads in no time throughout your body. Malignent melanoma's are about the worst kind of cancer one can have - while easily removed, they metasthesize at alarming rates, and often proof fatal regardless of removing the initial melanoma or not.
 





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Output from a 532nm is absorbed all the way to the subcutis layer. This layer houses larger blood vessels and nerves with smaller vessels in the dermis above. Blood absorbs 532nm readily with a peak absorption in the 600nm range. Thus the blood vessels are being burned or heated to levels to damage the vessels and the blood cells as well as other structures (nerves, collagen, etc.) well below the surface of the skin. The only wavelengths that actually do not penetrate readily is far infrared (CO2). Such lasers start burning at the surface and work their way down whereas 532nm will immediately affect several layers at once but the power density at any given point is less than the rated output because the beam is being absorbed across several layers (plus there is some diffuse reflection and fluorescence). It's not likely there is any permanent damage as the body will repair the area as in any injury except, perhaps, nerve damage. Damage to skin with visible and IR lasers is thermal in nature. Cancer is not a likely outcome from exposure due absorption outside the nucleus. High energy photons in the low UV range do have enough energy to reach the genetic material within the nucleus if the cell survives the thermal effects.

Hey Frothy...

Thanks for your insight...

Can't understand inexperienced members experimenting on
themselves with Lasers without first researching the possible
hazards....:undecided:

It's like jumping out of an airplane not researching the fact
that without a parachute you may die or become severely
handicapped...:whistle:

@ FarewellToKings.... be careful... you may become sterile
and your D@#k may drop off...:cryyy:


Jerry
 
Last edited:
Joined
Aug 10, 2010
Messages
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Hey Frothy...

Thanks for your insight...

Can't understand inexperienced members experimenting on
themselves with Lasers without first researching the possible
hazards....:undecided:

It's like jumping out of an airplane not researching the fact
that without a parachute you may die or become severely
handicapped...:whistle:

@ FarewellToKings.... be careful... you may become sterile
and your D@#k may drop off...:cryyy:


Jerry

Dont worry Jerry. I come from an extensive science and medicine background. My dad is an oncologist, and 2 close friends of his are an ophthalmologist and a dermatologist. We have had several conversations about lasers, their effects, and their dangers. I myself took 3 years of pre medical microbiology, before having a change of heart and switching to business and real estate.
 

IsaacT

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Man, that's quite a big pair of shoes you are looking at stepping into! Your collection will feature many more of the big name lasers than mine I predict haha. Good luck with the business and real estate!
 
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Self mutilation. This kid is no different than a cutter.
My mother said my father use to intentionally burn himself with a soldering iron.
I don't judge. I'm just saying.......
 
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I was told a long time ago that uv light knocks segments out of the dna strands in your cells. The body can repair the damage by replacing the cells but the damaged cell has a small chance of "slipping past" the repair.
Said cell may then replicate using flawed dna. When this happens, you could either get cancer or turn into a turtle.
445 handheld induced turtleoma is no laughing matter folks. Vet bills can be a nightmare and you will more than likely be put down. :(


I think I might have had too much sugar o_O time for bed :p
Night peoples!!!
-Auto
 
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I don't think there's a risk of cancer when using 445nm laser diodes. We use all 24 at once in a beamer, so unless you're getting a direct hit of high power collimated 445nm for a longer time, I wouldn't worry. And I'd worry about different effects in case of such a direct hit.
 

Benm

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I come from an extensive science and medicine background. My dad is an oncologist, and 2 close friends of his are an ophthalmologist and a dermatologist. We have had several conversations about lasers, their effects, and their dangers. I myself took 3 years of pre medical microbiology...

.. and between the four of you, you figured that burning yourself with a laser was a fine idea? I wonder if that discussion just followed a mind altering substance sampler ;)
 
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Self mutilation. This kid is no different than a cutter.
My mother said my father use to intentionally burn himself with a soldering iron.
I don't judge. I'm just saying.......

Yes, I use the slight pain from lasers to help cope with my terrible life, and the 4 tiny temporary dots on my hand as a cry for help.
 
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IsaacT

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.. and between the four of you, you figured that burning yourself with a laser was a fine idea? I wonder if that discussion just followed a mind altering substance sampler ;)

Probably not mindaltering substances or else no one would have burned themselves. They would all have just eaten a bunch of doritos and fallen asleep:tired: and forgot about it. Lol:p
 




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