usakicksass said:
I have used my 250mw green to heal cuts and acne(on my Daughter). I dont know if it is the heat that either kills the bacteria or just stimulates the immune system.
Do
NOT repeat this experiment. Ever. And certainly not with Igor's blu-rays. Quick breakdown follows:
Red lasers:
- Aggravates certain skin diseases, including some forms of psoriasis where a mere 5mW will cause the patient to develop oozing blisters that appear permanent.
- Collapses blood vessels at certain power levels; I have successfully treated varicose veins with a red laser.
- Alleviates or cures certain kinds of inflammatory pain in the same way as an NSAID.
- Messes up the thyroid gland if applied directly with enough strength to reach it.
- Accelerates healing of superficial cuts, but causes extensive scarring.
- Accelerates growth of Pseudomonas bacteria;
very hard to treat.
- Supposedly stimulates immune system (can be good or bad).
- Theoretical potential for cautery at high power levels.
Green lasers:
- Accelerates growth of Pseudomonas bacteria;
very hard to treat.
- Causes instant vasodilation in some types of blood vessels.
- Too high powers will cauterize the same blood vessels.
- Intermediate powers damage vasoregulation.
405nm lasers:
- Increases oxidative stress on cells, raising the risk of melanoma.
- Kills a few types of bacteria, notably Pseudomonas.
- Effective for cautery at surprisingly low power.
- Some potential surgical applications.
Apart from this, if you deliver more than 15mW to the basal layer of your skin, that can cause local damage. More than 25mW to the basal layer of the skin will cause blood vessels to die locally, which is used for precise and permanent hair removal. As in all cases, the amount that penetrates the skin, and how focused it is, will determine the extent of any damage or therapeutic effect. For instance, there are wavelengths in the 1-1.5µm spectrum where the water in your cells will be transparent. Melanin absorbs pretty damn well at 405nm, but peak absorption is somewhat lower. Hemoglobin absorbs optimally in the 620-660nm range. If you focus one of Igor's burners on a wound, you will most likely cauterize it, causing extensive scarring and possibly basal cell carcinoma, depending on the length of exposure and your phenotype. Any latent melanomas in the area (pre-stage where keratin modification has been activated, but before proliferation has occured) are likely to be triggered.
Mind you, I didn't bring out my references, so this is all just from memory.
Of course, the 405nm lasers' diffuse reflections off skin will be harmful to your eyes in the long run, particularly if you have blue eyes or have genetic heritage from nordic areas.
The point, in plain English: do not attempt to use a laser to treat
any medical condition without the supervision of a doctor that knows how to use the different wavelengths and power levels to treat specific conditions. Do not allow one to rest on your skin for a long period of time, particularly ones with high power and/or IR and/or UV content (including 405nm, which is close enough to do real damage). Just because you can't
see the damage occuring before your eyes doesn't mean you won't have after-effects showing up years later. Nor does the absence of long term effects mean anything other than having made a lucky draw in the lottery.
To reiterate, don't burn your daughter's wounds with one of Igor's lasers.
Unless a doctor tells you to do so, and how, of course.
Never thought lasers in the middle of the spectrum can be that damaging.Still how can a mere 25mW of green be used for hair removal? I thought they used YAG or something. :-/
