Topical medicaments are the mainstay of the dermatologists’ therapeutic arsenal. The stratum corneum in the upper layer of the epidermis is rather impermeable to water-soluble and large molecules. Traversing this layer is key to optimal drug delivery. Studies thus far suggest that laser pre-treatment improves transepidermal absorption of topical agents and allows for a much deeper penetration of drugs than is possible with topical medicaments alone. Laser-assisted drug delivery enhances the ability of topically-applied medicaments to penetrate the skin, which may allow for more efficacious action of current treatments; such that conventional duration of treatment can be shortened or lower concentrations of active agents be used, potentially obviating side effects of treatment. In order to discuss how we eventually got to this stage, it is important to look at the animal model studies…
