Erbium:YAG laser
An ablative laser that removes skin in very thin layers without releasing much heat into the depth. We use it for benign raised moles, seborrhoeic keratoses and actinic keratoses.
Overview
The Erbium:YAG laser is an ablative laser, meaning it removes tissue. Its light, at a wavelength of 2,940 nanometres, is absorbed very strongly by the water in the skin. The energy therefore stays within a very thin layer of tissue, vaporises the tissue water there and removes the skin layer by layer without passing appreciable heat on to deeper layers. This is known as “cold” ablation; it is what physically distinguishes the Erbium:YAG laser from the CO₂ laser, which generates more heat in the tissue.
We use the Erbium:YAG laser above all to remove benign raised moles (benign papillary naevi), seborrhoeic keratoses (age warts) and actinic keratoses. Because the laser removes the tissue, it cannot be examined histologically afterwards. Before the treatment it must therefore be medically clarified that the change is benign; with unclear findings a tissue sample is taken first.
For this we use an Erbium:YAG laser system made by Asclepion. The aesthetic applications of the laser, for instance for age spots and fine lines, as well as the procedure, downtime and risks are described on the detailed treatment page.
Areas of application
- Benign raised moles (benign papillary naevi)
- Seborrhoeic keratoses (age warts)
- Actinic keratoses