BURLINGTON, Mass., March 13, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:PMTI), a leading researcher and developer of lasers and light systems for aesthetic treatments, is pleased to announce the availability of the revolutionary Skintel™ Melanin Reader - the only FDA-cleared melanin reader for use with light-based treatments. The Skintel reader will be introduced at the 70th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) in San Diego, California, from March 16th through March 20th.

"The Skintel Melanin Reader is truly a game-changing innovation for aesthetic providers," remarked Joseph P. Caruso, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The Skintel reader was developed by Palomar's outstanding research organization to better and more accurately measure skin melanin density."

The Skintel reader provides an additional element of treatment confidence by determining an average melanin density in an area of skin to be treated, in a quantitative manner, prior to a light-based aesthetic treatment - such as hair removal or photorejuvenation. Understanding how much melanin is in the skin helps the aesthetic professional to better choose the treatment settings on the Palomar Icon Aesthetic System for enhanced treatment outcomes, while minimizing risk of over treatment.

E. Victor Ross, M.D., Director of the Scripps Clinic Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology Center in Carmel Valley, CA, participated in the clinical validation of the Skintel reader. "The Skintel Melanin Reader is a better, more advanced way to look at skin typing compared to the conventional Fitzpatrick method," said Dr. Ross. "The Skintel reader helps keep my eyeball honest. You can't always accurately evaluate skin visually, especially in areas where there is underlying redness overlaid with pigmentation. The Skintel reader helps me understand what's truly going on under the skin."

Jeremy Green, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in private practice in Coral Gables, FL, feels that the Skintel Melanin Reader helps him better serve his patients' needs. "The objectivity of the Skintel reader takes the guess work out of assessing a patient's skin. It provides me with added confidence in treating my patients successfully from the first treatment."

The Skintel Melanin Reader measures skin diffuse reflectance at three unique wavelengths of light and computes these values into a Melanin Index value, which wirelessly sets the suggested parameters in the Palomar Icon Aesthetic System for a starting treatment test spot fluence. The Skintel reader offers practitioners a quantitative method of measuring melanin content for better treatment guidance and for increased confidence in aesthetic light-based treatments.

To learn more about the Skintel Melanin Reader and the Palomar Icon Aesthetic System, please visit palomarmedical.com. Attendees at the AAD Annual Meeting can experience Skintel first-hand at Booth #1227.

About Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc.: Palomar is a leading researcher and developer of laser- and light-based systems for aesthetic treatments.

Palomar pioneered the optical hair removal field, when, in 1997, it introduced the first high-powered laser hair removal system. Since then, many of the major advances in light-based hair removal have been based on Palomar technology. In December 2006, Palomar became the first company to receive a 510(k) over-the-counter (OTC) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new, patented, home-use, light-based hair removal device. OTC clearance allows these products to be marketed and sold directly to consumers without a prescription.

As a pioneer of fractional technology, Palomar is an owner of fundamental intellectual property in this area. In June 2009, Palomar became the first company to receive a 510(k) OTC clearance from the FDA for a new, patented, home-use, fractional laser device for the treatment of periorbital wrinkles. Palomar introduced the PaloVia™ Skin Renewing Laser™ in December 2010.  In December 2009, Palomar received the first FDA clearance for the treatment of stretch marks using a fractional non-ablative laser. In September 2010, Palomar received the first FDA clearance for a fractional ablative and fractional non-ablative combination treatment.

There are now millions of laser- and light-based aesthetic procedures performed around the world every year in physician offices, clinics, spas, salons, and homes. Palomar is testing many new and exciting applications to further advance the aesthetic market and other surgical applications.

For more information on Palomar and its products, visit Palomar's website at palomarmedical.com.

With the exception of the historical information contained in this release, the matters described herein contain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements relating to new markets, future royalty amounts due from third parties, development and introduction of new products, and financial and operating projections. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve risk and uncertainties that may individually or mutually impact the matters herein, and cause actual results, events and performance to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. These risk factors include, but are not limited to, results of future operations, technological difficulties in developing or introducing new products, the results of future research, lack of product demand and market acceptance for current and future products, the effect of economic conditions, challenges in managing joint ventures and research with third parties and government contracts, the impact of competitive products and pricing, governmental regulations with respect to medical devices, including whether FDA clearance will be obtained for future products and additional applications, the results of litigation, difficulties in collecting royalties, potential infringement of third-party intellectual property rights, factors affecting the Company's future income and resulting ability to utilize its NOLs, and/or other factors, which are detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. 


CONTACT: Industry Press Contact:
         Branden Morris
         Integrated Marketing Manager
         (781) 993-2452
         bmorris@palomarmedical.com

         Investor Relations Contact:
         Kerry McAnistan
         Investor Relations Assistant
         (781) 993-2411
         ir@palomarmedical.com
Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc.