While laser and IPL technology are not known to cause skin cancer, this doesn't mean that laser and IPL therapies are free of long-term risks. The development and use of light and lasers for medical and cosmetic procedures have increased exponentially over the past decade. This review article focuses on the incidence of reported cases of skin cancer after laser or IPL treatment. The existing empirical base of more than 25 years of laser and IPL use to date has not posed any problems with regard to their long-term safety, as there are only a few anecdotal cases of melanoma after treatment over two decades of use; therefore, there is no evidence to suggest that there is a credible risk of cancer.
Phototherapies and lasers to treat existing lesions and CO2 laser rejuvenation can be a preventive measure against tumor formation in the BCC and SCC, since they eliminate photodamaged keratinocytes and promote the re-epithelialization of stem cells located deeper in the epidermis. A review of the relevant literature has been carried out to address the question of the long-term safety of IPL, focusing on DNA damage, the induction of oxidative stress and the impact of adverse effects. Data obtained in studies conducted on mice with skin cancer suggest that laser therapy increases melanoma growth. These results were determined based on extremely high doses of low-intensity phototherapy, which would never be used during a normal procedure, much less during several treatments.
There is no solid research to indicate that laser therapy aggravates malignant forms of skin cancer. Most forms of laser therapy work with a frequency that barely penetrates the skin and are used primarily for cosmetic purposes. For example, laser treatments are available that can help reduce wrinkles, combat pigmentation abnormalities, and even reverse damage caused by the sun. None of these treatments increases the risk of skin cancer growing. However, depending on where you choose to have the popular procedure, you may have a higher risk of cancer.
They found that skin tumors developed in groups exposed to UV radiation, regardless of whether they had also been exposed to IPL treatment. Luckily for O'Connell, he refused laser treatment and showed the stain to his dermatologist, who eventually performed surgery to remove it. With individualized guidance, you can reap the benefits of laser technology while maintaining vigilance over the health of your skin in the long term. In vitro studies confirmed that laser irradiation could cause increased cell proliferation and, therefore, treating MM with light could worsen the condition.
Therefore, no definitive conclusions can be drawn as to whether the treatment caused the cancer or if the cancer was already present before and the treatment had no effect. A distinctive advantage is the ability to attack multiple chromophores over a large area of skin with a single pulse, compared to narrow-beam, small-spot-size laser systems.
Having 5 or more sunburns over a lifetime doubles the risk of skin cancer, but this damage is significantly greater than that caused during laser skin treatments
. The long-term effects of laser therapy, including the possibility of an increased risk of cancer, have not been studied.Second, the type of light used in medical lasers is very different from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, which damage DNA and cause skin cancer. We have reported a rare case of squamous cell carcinoma caused by laser therapy after a chemical burn. Since the first commercial cutaneous carbon dioxide laser system became available worldwide more than 40 years ago, millions of treatments have been performed, often with positive results. The patient was misdiagnosed with lentigo simplex and the lesion was treated with CO2 laser vaporization.
No new skin cancer was detected and only one skin cancer was detected in the treated area, 33 months (patient) and 52 months (patient) after laser rejuvenation treatment. What her doctor wanted to remove with a laser was actually deep squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. According to the American Society for Dermatological Studies, not everyone who uses incredibly complicated lasers has received enough training to understand the power with which light interacts with skin and tissue. of patients.
If you have a personal or family history of skin cancer, it's always wise to consult a board-certified dermatologist before beginning any cosmetic treatment plan.
