Laser treatment of warts and other epidermal and dermal lesions

The CO2 laser is a very versatile and effective tool for the ablation of various epidermal and dermal lesions. The development of high peak power, short pulse, or rapidly scanned resurfacing CO2 lasers has improved the safety and efficacy of CO2 laser treatment significantly. Many lesions amenable to CO2 laser vaporization, however, can be treated by other, far less expensive treatment modalities. It is therefore the laser surgeon's responsibility to use the CO2 laser only in cases in which its use has been demonstrated to be the best treatment option.