Role of Erbium:YAG laser in the treatment of aged skin.

Laser resurfacing procedures in actinic skin damage and the treatment of disorders associated with skin ageing are becoming more popular. For both purposes Erbium:YAG laser-technology enables us to perform a highly precise skin ablative work, which can be most helpful in the removal of circumscribed skin lesions of ageing skin as well as in larger skin resurfacing procedures. In most circumstances, superficial skin ablation is not technically demanding, is not associated with major discomfort, and can be controlled with precision. Tissue sparing ablation is of special value in the treatment of disorders in atrophic skin of elderly patients or in more delicate areas, where it can avoid prolonged healing and unwarranted side-effects.