• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.142-149
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• 2020

Background and Objectives A picosecond-domain laser treatment using a microlens array (MLA) or a diffractive optical element elicits therapeutic micro-injury zones in the skin. This study examined the patterns of tissue reactions after delivering multiple pulses of 1,064-nm, MLA-type, picosecond neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser treatment. Materials and Methods Multiple pulses of picosecond laser treatment were delivered to ex vivo human or brown micropig skin and analyzed histopathologically. A high-speed cinematographic study was performed to visualize the multiple pulses of picosecond laser energy-induced skin reactions in in vivo human skin. Results In the ex vivo human skin, a picosecond laser treatment at a fluence of 0.3 J/cm² over 100 non-stacking passes generated multiple lesions of thermally-initiated laser-induced optical breakdown (TI-LIOB) in the epidermis and dermis. In the ex vivo micropig skin, stacking pulses of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 at a fluence of 0.3 J/cm² generated distinct round to oval zones of tissue coagulation in the mid to lower dermis. High-speed cinematography captured various patterns of twinkling, micro-spot reactions on the skin surface over 100 stacked pulses of a picosecond laser treatment. Conclusion Multiple pulses of 1,064-nm, MLA-type, picosecond laser treatment elicit marked TI-LIOB reactions in the epidermis and areas of round to oval thermal coagulation in the mid to deep dermis.