Benign pigmented lesions of the skin. Treatment with the Q-switched ruby laser.

Background: The Q-switched ruby laser is a 694 nanometer (red light) pulsed (20-40 nsecond) laser that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of cutaneous pigmented lesions.

Objective: This article will review my experience in the use of the Q-switched ruby laser to treat a wide gamut of epidermal and dermal pigmented lesions.

Results: The Q-switched ruby laser is highly effective in treating epidermal pigmented lesions and can be efficacious in the treatment of some dermal pigmented lesions.

Conclusions: The Q-switched ruby laser is an effective addition to the cutaneous laser armamentarium.