Comparison of the contact neodymium:YAG and carbon dioxide lasers for skin deepithelialization.

The application of laserbrasion by the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser for skin deepithelialization previously has been proven efficacious in numerous clinical experiences. This study in adult Sprague-Dawley rats was designed to compare those known effects of the CO2 laser with the contact neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser for skin deepithelialization, since tactile feedback from the handpiece of the latter is a theoretical advantage. This proved that although the contact Nd:YAG laser does have the capability to achieve skin deepithelialization, when compared with more conventional methods, it is laboriously inefficient and therefore at present impractical.