Laser treatment for eliminating psoriasis?

The term "excimer" originates from the combination of the words "excited dimer" and refers to a temporary excited state that forms when noble gas molecules, such as argon or krypton, bind to halogen molecules like fluorine or chlorine. This phenomenon is characterized by high energy and is used in excimer laser technology.

The excimer laser has been adapted for the treatment of psoriasis using a specific wavelength of 308 nm, which allows it to effectively penetrate the upper layers of the skin, where psoriasis lesions are located. This wavelength has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of plaque psoriasis.

A study conducted on 10 patients suffering from psoriasis were treated with a 308 nm excimer laser at a frequency of three times per week until the skin disease disappeared. On average, patients underwent 8 sessions. This treatment allowed the psoriasis plaques to disappear three times faster than with the UVB phototherapy.

Thanks to its wavelength of approximately 595 nm, this laser specifically targets red blood vessels by promoting optimal absorption of oxyhemoglobin, a combination of hemoglobin with oxygen. The light emitted by the laser is absorbed by the oxyhemoglobin present in the blood of the vessels, which allows for the effective treatment of all blood vessels involved in the concerned lesions. The energy of the light radiation is converted into heat to weaken the walls of the capillaries. This allows for the selective targeting and destruction of the specific vessels that one wishes to treat.

An epidermal cooling step is necessary to prevent skin burns. Often, the laser is coupled with a cooling system. The size of the impacts and the pulse durations are variable. Generally, the shorter the pulse duration, the more it will act on fine blood vessels. The longer the pulse duration, the more effective it can be on telangiectasias. One or more sessions may be necessary depending on the lesions. Sometimes, bruises or purpuras may appear after this type of treatment but they eventually disappear on their own.

This type of treatment has proven effective for nail psoriasis , especially for lesions of the nail bed, particularly onycholysis and subungual hyperkeratosis.

CO2 lasers are ablative lasers that utilize carbon dioxide. This laser is capable of emitting infrared radiation with a wavelength of 10,600 nanometers. Its operation is based on the excitation of carbon dioxide molecules. This laser has been used in dermatology since the 1990s.

In 1985, this technique proved successful on three patients suffering from plaque psoriasis. Moreover, it was reported that the treated areas did not experience psoriasis for three and a half years. Although the CO2 laser has demonstrated its effectiveness in dermatological procedures and the treatment of certain skin conditions, its specific use for the treatment of psoriasis has not been the subject of scientific studies or widespread approvals. Thus, it does not constitute a primary treatment for psoriasis.