The argon laser for cutaneous lesions.

A summary of the pathophysiology and clinical use of the argon laser in the treatment of cutaneous lesions is presented. The nonionizing blue-green argon laser light is absorbed by pigment, is converted to heat, and selectively destroys specific cutaneous lesions with sparing of adjacent dermal appendages and healing of the laser wound with minimal scarring. Vascular lesions (port wine hemangioma, capillary-cavernous hemangioma, telangiectasia), inflammatory lesions (pyogenic granuloma), nevoid lesions, tattoo lesions, and a variety of miscellaneous lesions have been successfully treated.