Which laser type is commonly used for treating vascular lesions?

The Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) is specifically designed for treating vascular lesions due to its unique wavelength of light, which can be selectively absorbed by hemoglobin in blood vessels. This allows the PDL to target and effectively reduce unwanted blood vessels, making it an ideal choice for conditions such as port-wine stains, telangiectasias, and other vascular malformations. The PDL can deliver short pulses of energy, minimizing damage to surrounding tissues while effectively coagulating the targeted vessels.

In contrast, while other lasers, like the Nd:YAG, can also be used to treat vascular lesions, they are typically more effective for deeper vascular structures and may not be as selective for superficial lesions as the PDL. The CO2 and Er:YAG lasers are primarily used for ablative skin resurfacing and tissue removal, making them less suitable for targeted vascular treatments. Therefore, the PDL stands out as the most appropriate laser type for addressing superficial vascular lesions.