The Effects of Aesthetic Lasers and Intense Pulsed Light on Skin Shields

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing demand for laser and light-based procedures over larger body surface areas, increasing the risk of encountering nontarget skin areas such as melanocytic nevi and tattoos. Few products exist to block light energy transmission to these skin areas during such procedures. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of four commonly used lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL) on skin shields and other materials aimed for protecting patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors performed tests with a 532-nm KTP laser, 810-nm diode laser, 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser, 2,940-nm Er:YAG laser, and IPL. Their effects were evaluated on adhesive skin shields, laser treatment patches, silk and paper white tape, and laser and IPL eye shields using a laser power and energy meter. RESULTS: The skin shields demonstrated the lowest or second lowest energy transmission rates when exposed to the 532-nm KTP laser (3.70%), 810-nm laser (7.18%), 2,940-nm Er:YAG laser (0.04%), and IPL (0.99%-1.49%). Damage was seen on both eye and skin shields when exposed to the 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser. CONCLUSION: Skin shields were effective in blocking electromagnetic radiation with all tested lasers and IPL, except the 1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser, thus offering a safe, viable option to protect nontarget skin areas.