From the Guidelines
ND:YAG lasers are a recommended treatment option for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), with studies showing significant improvement in HS severity after treatment. The phrase "What ND yah laser nmarey" appears to be unclear or misspelled, but if you're asking about ND:YAG lasers, these are medical devices used in various procedures including treatment of vascular lesions, hair removal, and certain eye surgeries. According to a study published in 2019 1, the neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser has the largest number of controlled trials and case reports showing consistently effective results in treating HS.
Key Points to Consider
- The use of ND:YAG lasers in treating HS has been evaluated in several studies, with most showing positive outcomes 1.
- A study published in 2016 1 found that ND:YAG laser treatment resulted in a significant reduction in HS severity, with a percentage change of -65.3% over all anatomic sites.
- The recommended settings for ND:YAG laser treatment in HS patients vary by skin type, with typical settings using a 10-mm spot size, 10-ms pulse duration, and 35 to 50 J/cm2 for patients with Fitzpatrick skin type I to III 1.
- The treatment protocol for ND:YAG laser in HS typically involves 3 or 4 treatment sessions, with additional treatment potentially providing more lasting benefit.
Important Considerations
- The use of ND:YAG lasers in HS treatment should be guided by operator experience, with an end point of delayed post-treatment perifollicular erythema and/or edema for follicular destruction 1.
- Other energy sources, such as CO2 lasers, photodynamic therapy, and intense pulsed light, have also been evaluated in HS treatment, but the evidence is less consistent or based on smaller studies 1.
From the Research
ND YAG Laser
- The ND:YAG laser has a wavelength of 1064 nm, which can be frequency-doubled to produce visible green light with a wavelength of 532 nm 2.
- This laser is effective in the removal of pigmented lesions, including melanocytic nevi, blue nevi, and nevus of Ota and Ito 2.
- The ND:YAG laser can also be used for hair removal, particularly in patients with darkly pigmented skin, with substantial hair reduction seen after each treatment session 3, 4.
- The use of the long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser for hair removal in Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI has been shown to be safe and effective, with a mean hair reduction of 54.3% and high patient satisfaction 4.
Wavelength and Applications
- The wavelength of the ND:YAG laser (1064 nm) allows for deep penetration into the skin, making it suitable for treating deeper pigmented lesions and hair follicles 2, 5.
- The ND:YAG laser has been used to treat a variety of pigmented lesions, including solar lentigines, ephelides, and café au lait macules 2.
- In addition to hair removal and pigmented lesion treatment, the ND:YAG laser has also been used to treat vascular lesions, such as telangiectasias and port-wine stains 5.