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- Presentation
The Future of Energy-Based Dermatologic Devices and Lasers
Description
Dr. Eric Bernstein discusses the future of energy-based dermatologic devices, emphasizing that smarter, highly complex lasers are often less important than practical improvements such as larger spot sizes, preset settings, faster treatment, and better targeting of specific skin chromophores. He argues that modern vascular lasers, including KTP, PDL, and other large-spot systems, can effectively treat vascular lesions, rosacea, spider veins, port wine stains, and even improve texture and acne with relatively simple, selective approaches. He highlights newer erbium-based and computer-controlled lasers that allow precise control of pulse patterns, inflammation, and depth, potentially improving resurfacing, acne scars, and other scars while healing faster. For tattoos, he suggests that even shorter pulse durations may eventually improve removal of difficult colors like yellow and white. He also stresses that lasers work best when integrated with a biologic understanding of inflammation and wound healing, and that future dermatologic care should pay more attention to proven topicals, UV protection, AHAs, retinoids, and the actual biology of what is being treated rather than relying on unproven trends.
View moreConclusions
- The presentation concludes that modern vascular lasers are highly selective, effective, and often better used broadly across dermatology than older assumptions suggested.
- It argues that larger spot sizes, preset settings, and improved cooling make newer KTP and PDL systems faster, more practical, and potentially cost-effective for treating redness, rosacea, port-wine stains, and related vascular conditions.
- A central theme is that laser outcomes depend not only on wavelength and energy, but on the inflammatory and biologic response they provoke in skin.
- The speaker suggests that newer fiber-based erbium systems enable more precise control of ablation, coagulation, and depth, with faster healing than older erbium:YAG approaches.
- The research implies that these advanced lasers can be used for a wider range of resurfacing and scar treatments, including acne scarring and other textural problems.
- For tattoo removal, shorter pulse durations appear promising for improving clearance of difficult colors like yellow, while white and cosmetic pigments remain especially challenging.
- The talk concludes that integrating topicals with lasers is important, but that many commonly used post-laser products are not yet well understood and need better scientific grounding.
- It emphasizes that the most evidence-based anti-aging topicals remain alpha-hydroxy acids and retinoids, especially tretinoin.
- The overall message is that future progress in energy-based devices will come less from gimmicky ‘smart’ features and more from better understanding of tissue biology, selectivity, and treatment endpoints.
- Bernstein EF, Lee J, Brown DB, Yu R, Van Scott E. Glycolic Acid Treatment Increases Type I Collagen mRNA and Hyaluronic Acid Content of Human Skin.#10.1097/00042728-200105000-00001