A recent article written by a well-known dermatologist in Hong Kong (Dr. Henry Chan Hin Lee, many of us have known through Harvard's What's the Truth dermatology CME) quoting experimental data from Harvard's Wellman Photodynamic center suggesting that frequent laser treatments to the skin may increase the chance of developing skin cancer in laboratory mice. The research involved exposing constant IPL treatments to laboratory mice and noticed various forms of skin cancer developing from the exposed area of the skin.

Just wondering what is everyone's take on this issue. We treat patients with various forms of lasers for pigmentation, sun damage (q switched lasers /IPL), collagen stimulation (skin tightening RF/Infrared), resurfacing (fractionated lasers) on a regular basis. If the data suggests that laser treatments on skin is directly linked to skin cancer in human, the cosmetic dermatology profession is certainly doomed for extinction.

Wrong. The "laser industry" would be doomed to extinction. There are those of us out there who still employ old school methods of cosmetic dermatology.

Very well put. The "Laser Industry" would be in trouble if the experiment data suggests any human correlation. There are still plenty of time trusted procedures (i.e. botox, fillers, plastic surgery options ) in the cosmetic dermatology industry.

If this is proven to be true, I wonder if IPL and perhaps some other non ablative lasers would cause this, and resurfacing lasers would not. Afterall, their mechanism is quite different. Thanks for posting Kenneth.

If the research involved "exposing constant IPL treatments to laboratory mice and noticed various forms of skin cancer developing from the exposed area of the skin." I would think that the IPL industy would be doomed to extinction. IPL's have a broad range of light extending into the UV and UV could be the problem. Is there any data that visible to IR wavelengths have the same effect?

Is there anyway you can post the original reference information and date of the publication. I would like to reference this in an article I am writing.

Thank you.

Kenneth can you post a link or reference to the study you're referring to?

Thanks

I do think that the distinction between L.A.S.E.R.S and IPL's should be made quite clear. An IPL is NOT a L.A.S.E.R.

As was rightly pointed out, the research was carried out with IPL's and I have long held the view that IPL's can change the skins DNA in a way that L.A.S.E.R.S cannot.

Wrong again. The IPL industry would be doomed to extinction

IPL is just a whole bunch of wavelengths all together and Laser is one wavelength, lasers are very different from IPL machines. Lasers are specialized and IPL machines are "confused and disorganized"

I feel that 755nm for Fitz 1-3 and 1064 for fitz 4-6 are the best ways to treat for LHR.

Kf

You are right but BOTH OF THEM are carrying energy by photons of light so there is no big difference that could explain the conlcusion of this article.

The link to Henry Chan's research in 2006 which started the concern about repeated laser use and risk of developing skin cancer.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/113469233/abstract

The most recent article was just released in a Chinese article in the news paper China daily in Hong Kong.
Search the following key words at www.hk.yahoo.com laser and skin cancer henry chan
The entry will be found under the third listing titled "Laser facial goes Awry from HK Women"

The link to Henry Chan's research in 2006 which started the concern about repeated laser use and risk of developing skin cancer.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/113469233/abstract

The most recent article was just released in a Chinese article in the news paper China daily in Hong Kong.
Search the following key words at www.hk.yahoo.com laser and skin cancer henry chan
The entry will be found under the third listing titled "Laser facial goes Awry from HK Women"

The link to Henry Chan's research in 2006 which started the concern about repeated laser use and risk of developing skin cancer.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/113469233/abstract

The most recent article was just released in a Chinese article in the news paper China daily in Hong Kong.
Search the following key words at www.hk.yahoo.com laser and skin cancer henry chan
The entry will be found under the third listing titled "Laser facial goes Awry from HK Women"

Current theory on nodular melanoma is that they arise from hair follicles, so LHR should reduce the risk of these

Kenneth

You seemed to be pro-Henry Chan or what?

He is well known here in HK for more than his academic acheivement. I wont say what.

Anyway, any smart person will think of the time exposure of Laser / IPL relative to that person / or animal's life span. How long can a mice live and how long can you live? Irridiate IPL every day for 2 weeks for a no of hours per day ( sorry, I dont remember what the exact exposure was, but just remember it was LONG...) to the mice is a high proportion of that poor animal 's life. It might be similar to do the same to you for God know 10 years...

Anyway, I think you get what I mean. NOBODY is taking any note of that research here in HK. Tell you what, after that research, I know women were still sold a course of 10 laser facilals at Henry Chan's clinic !!!

I wonder what his answer was when the patient asked him: Oh Dr, didnt you just find that IPl or laser can cause skin cancer? Would that happen to me?

Dr stephen

Kenneth

You seemed to be pro-Henry Chan or what?

He is well known here in HK for more than his academic acheivement. I wont say what.

Anyway, any smart person will think of the time exposure of Laser / IPL relative to that person / or animal's life span. How long can a mice live and how long can you live? Irridiate IPL every day for 2 weeks for a no of hours per day ( sorry, I dont remember what the exact exposure was, but just remember it was LONG...) to the mice is a high proportion of that poor animal 's life. It might be similar to do the same to you for God know 10 years...

Anyway, I think you get what I mean. NOBODY is taking any note of that research here in HK. Tell you what, after that research, I know women were still sold a course of 10 laser facilals at Henry Chan's clinic !!!

I wonder what his answer was when the patient asked him: Oh Dr, didnt you just find that IPl or laser can cause skin cancer? Would that happen to me?

Dr stephen